Good news · Health & science · 6 November 2026
NHS adds 125 scanners to boost annual scan capacity
The Department of Health and Social Care announced that 125 CT and MRI scanners have been added to the NHS. This expansion enables one million extra scans per year and supports faster diagnosis for serious conditions.
The Department of Health and Social Care announced that 125 additional CT and MRI scanners have been installed across the NHS. This expansion, which also includes new AI technology, allows for approximately one million extra scans per year. A new Community Diagnostic Centre in Manchester and Trafford opened on 29 October as part of this rollout.
Figures published with the announcement show the scanner count increased by 125 between March 2024 and March 2026. AI-powered MRI technology helps services perform 14% more scans on average while keeping image quality the same. Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said: "Getting the right diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible can make all the difference, particularly for patients with cancer and other serious conditions."
The new infrastructure aims to reduce waits and speed up diagnosis and treatment for conditions like lung, brain, breast, and prostate cancer. The overall waiting list for elective care has decreased by more than 250,000 since July 2024. The Manchester and Trafford centre, which cost £19.2 million, is now open to patients.
Written by StreetOwl from Department of Health and Social Care’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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