Community Diagnostic Centres: What the £237 Million Expansion Means for Pharmacy (2026)

The government's investment in diagnostic centres across England could reshape referral pathways for community pharmacists.

The UK government announced in April 2026 a £237 million investment to expand Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) across England, according to a statement published on GOV.UK. The aim: to give NHS patients quicker access to tests and scans closer to home, reducing pressure on hospitals and cutting waiting times for diagnostic procedures.

For community pharmacy, this expansion has practical implications — from referral pathways to the types of patients walking through pharmacy doors.

What are Community Diagnostic Centres?

CDCs are NHS facilities located outside of hospitals — in high streets, shopping centres, and community buildings — that offer a range of diagnostic tests including blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI scans, and cardiac diagnostics. They were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce diagnostic backlogs and have since become a permanent feature of NHS infrastructure.

The £237 million investment is intended to increase the number of CDCs, extend their opening hours, and broaden the range of tests they offer. The government has stated that the expansion will enable millions more diagnostic tests per year.

How this affects community pharmacy

Referral pathways. Pharmacists already refer patients to GPs when consultations under Pharmacy First or other services indicate a need for further investigation. As CDCs expand, some of these referral pathways may evolve. In areas where CDCs accept direct referrals from primary care — rather than requiring a GP intermediary — pharmacists could play a role in signposting patients toward appropriate diagnostic services.

Patient flow. CDCs located on high streets or in retail parks will generate foot traffic. Patients attending a CDC for a blood test or scan may visit a nearby pharmacy before or after their appointment — to collect prescriptions, ask about test preparation, or seek advice on symptoms that prompted the diagnostic referral in the first place. Pharmacies located near CDCs may see an increase in footfall.

Post-diagnostic support. When diagnostic results lead to new prescriptions — for example, a blood test revealing high cholesterol resulting in a statin prescription — the community pharmacy is the next point of contact. More diagnostic activity upstream means more new prescriptions downstream, particularly for long-term conditions.

Public health screening. Some CDCs offer screening services for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory conditions. Community pharmacies already deliver NHS blood pressure checks, and there is potential for pharmacy-based screening to complement CDC capacity, particularly for conditions where early detection depends on opportunistic testing rather than scheduled appointments.

What this does not mean

The £237 million investment is in diagnostic centres, not in pharmacy services directly. There is no indication in the government announcement that community pharmacies will be commissioned to provide diagnostic services such as imaging or pathology testing. The pharmacy role is adjacent — referral, dispensing, and patient support — rather than diagnostic delivery.

It is also worth noting that CDC expansion varies by region. The investment is allocated through Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and some areas will see new centres before others. The practical impact on any individual pharmacy will depend on local geography and commissioning decisions.

The broader picture

England's community pharmacy network — over 13,000 branches tracked by PharmSee — sits alongside approximately 12,800 GP practices. Adding CDCs to this primary care landscape creates a three-point network: pharmacies for medicines and minor ailments, GP practices for clinical assessment, and CDCs for diagnostics. The closer these three are integrated, the more efficiently patients can move through the system.

According to PharmSee's analysis of NHS England dispensing contractor data, the average English pharmacy generates over £100,000 in annual NHS dispensing revenue, driven primarily by repeat prescriptions for long-term conditions. If CDC expansion leads to earlier diagnosis and more patients entering treatment pathways, the prescription volume flowing through community pharmacies could increase over time — though this is a long-term structural effect rather than an immediate one.

What pharmacy professionals should watch

Local ICB commissioning plans. Check whether your ICB has announced new CDC sites and whether referral pathways from community pharmacy are being developed.
Training opportunities. As diagnostics move into community settings, pharmacists with clinical skills in cardiovascular risk assessment, diabetes screening, or respiratory care may find new collaborative roles alongside CDC teams.
Location planning. For pharmacy operators considering new branch locations, proximity to a CDC or planned CDC site is an emerging factor worth considering alongside GP density and population demographics.

Explore pharmacy density and GP ratios in your area using PharmSee's location analysis tool, or search current vacancies at PharmSee Jobs.

Sources: GOV.UK, "NHS patients to get quicker tests and scans closer to home" (April 2026); NHS England community pharmacy contractual framework; PharmSee dispensing contractor data (April 2026 snapshot). This article provides analysis and does not constitute official NHS guidance.