160 Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) are set to be opened by March 2024, a year ahead of the original March 2025 target.

127 CDCs are already open and provide a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home.

The programme is the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS and has already delivered more than 5 million additional tests, checks and scans across the country.

It is hoped the new centres will provide capacity for 9 million more tests by 2025.

Health and social care cecretary Steve Barclay said: "Patients deserve the highest quality care, and community diagnostic centres have been instrumental in speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease to ensure patients are treated more quickly.

Three locations are set to open in December, including Queen Mary’s Sidcup CDC - based in south-east London, the facility will offer CT, MRI and ultrasound checks, along with blood tests - providing at least 58,000 additional checks once fully operational.

"I’m delighted we will open 160 CDCs a year early, allowing greater access to high tech scans and diagnostics in communities across England.

"This has been made possible by using all capacity available to us and drawing on the independent sector - helping us to cut waiting lists, one of the government’s top 5 priorities."