PATIENTS in Exeter will benefit from faster and more convenient tests, checks and scans as the Labour Government announces new investment in 36 new and expanded Community Diagnostic Centres.

The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million government investment, will significantly boost NHS diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.

As part of that investment Exeter’s CDC at the Nightingale Hospital will be expanded, with three new scanners and more multi-purpose clinic rooms on site. These upgrades will mean patients can access a greater range of tests at their local centre, reducing the need to travel to hospital.

The funding is part of the extra £26 billion a year this Labour government is investing in the NHS.

In 2025, the NHS in England carried out a record number of key diagnostic tests - almost 30 million - and has carried out an additional 3.5 million tests in the first 18 months of this government compared to the 18 months prior to July 2024.

Community Diagnostic Centres are local hubs that provide patients with access to a wide range of tests, including MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds.

CDCs are located in convenient community settings - from high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks to leisure centres – and many are open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, so patients can access tests closer to where they live, without needing to travel to hospital.

Steve Race, MP for Exeter, said: “This is fantastic news for patients in Exeter. When I talk to people on the doorstep they have nothing but good feedback about our Nightingale Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC).

“The addition of three new scanners and more multipurpose clinic rooms will enable more patients to be seen more quickly. A fast diagnosis means the best chance at a full recovery for those who need further treatment, and rapid reassurance for those who are given the all clear."