Private Testing Centres to Expand—Govt Confirms Third Wave for CDCs
The UK government's expansion of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) is rapidly changing the healthcare landscape. As an FCA-authorised expert with over 800,000 policies arranged, WeCovr helps clients navigate these changes. This article explores how more private testing centres will affect your choice and your private medical insurance.
How dozens more diagnostic facilities will impact patient choice and insurance-funded treatment
The recent government confirmation of a "third wave" of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) marks a significant shift in how and where UK patients receive essential medical tests. For those with private medical insurance (PMI), this expansion opens up a new era of convenience, speed, and choice.
Previously, accessing private diagnostic scans like MRIs or CTs often meant a trip to a large private hospital, which might be miles away. Now, with dozens more CDCs opening in accessible locations—from town centres to supermarket car parks—these crucial services are coming to your doorstep.
This development means:
- Faster Diagnosis: Quicker access to scans can shorten the time between spotting a symptom and starting treatment.
- Greater Convenience: Local centres reduce travel time and stress, making the diagnostic process much smoother.
- Enhanced Choice: Your insurer's list of approved facilities is growing, giving you more options on where to get tested.
- A More Integrated System: The lines between NHS and private provision are blurring, creating a hybrid system that can benefit patients who want to use their insurance to expedite care.
For anyone considering or currently holding a private health cover policy, understanding this evolution is key to making the most of your investment in your health.
What Are Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs)? A Simple Explanation
Think of a Community Diagnostic Centre as a "one-stop shop" for your health. Instead of going to a busy hospital for different tests on different days, you can get them all done in one place, away from the usual hustle and bustle of A&E and inpatient wards.
The primary goal of the CDC programme, launched in 2021, is to slash NHS waiting times by moving non-urgent diagnostic services out of hospitals. This frees up hospital resources to focus on emergency and complex cases.
What kinds of tests do CDCs offer?
These centres are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to perform a wide range of essential tests:
- Imaging Scans: MRI, CT, Ultrasound, and X-ray.
- Physiological Measurement: Echocardiography (heart scans), ECGs, and blood pressure monitoring.
- Endoscopy: Procedures to look inside the body, like gastroscopy.
- Pathology: Blood tests and other sample analyses.
According to NHS England, there are now over 160 CDCs open across the country, with many more planned. They have already delivered tens of millions of vital tests, checks, and scans for NHS patients since the programme began.
| Test Type | What It's For | Commonly Found at a CDC? |
|---|---|---|
| MRI Scan | Detailed images of soft tissues, joints, brain, and spine. | Yes |
| CT Scan | Cross-sectional images of bones, blood vessels, and organs. | Yes |
| Ultrasound | Uses sound waves to create images of organs and blood flow. | Yes |
| Blood Tests | Checks for infection, organ function, and health markers. | Yes |
| Echocardiogram | An ultrasound scan of the heart. | Yes |
The "Third Wave": Government's Plan for CDC Expansion Explained
The government's commitment to a "third wave" of CDCs represents a major acceleration of this programme. The plan is to continue opening new centres and expanding existing ones to create a national network of diagnostic facilities.
The core objectives of this expansion are clear:
- Tackle the NHS Waiting List: The most significant driver is the backlog for diagnostic tests. As of mid-2025, around 1.6 million patients are waiting for one of the 15 key diagnostic tests in England. CDCs are the government's primary strategy for reducing this figure.
- Improve Patient Outcomes: Early diagnosis saves lives. By making tests faster and more accessible, doctors can identify conditions like cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses sooner, when they are often easier to treat.
- Increase Convenience: Locating CDCs in community settings like shopping centres, retail parks, and local health hubs makes it far easier for people—especially the elderly or those with mobility issues—to attend appointments.
This expansion is largely being delivered through a partnership model, which has profound implications for the private healthcare market.
The Private Sector's Role in the CDC Programme
A crucial, often overlooked, aspect of the CDC programme is the deep involvement of independent private healthcare providers. While the service is free at the point of use for NHS patients, many of the centres are built, staffed, and managed by private companies in partnership with the NHS.
Leading private providers such as InHealth, Alliance Medical, and Rutherford Diagnostics are key players in running these facilities.
How does this partnership work?
- An NHS Trust identifies a need for more diagnostic capacity in its area.
- It partners with a private provider to set up and operate a CDC.
- Your NHS GP refers you for a scan.
- You are given an appointment at the new, privately-run CDC.
- The NHS pays the private provider for the scan you receive.
This hybrid model means that the same high-quality diagnostic equipment and staff are often available to both NHS and private patients, sometimes in the same building. For those with private medical insurance UK, this integration creates a seamless pathway to faster care.
How More CDCs Impact Your Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
The proliferation of CDCs is one of the most significant developments for PMI holders in recent years. It directly addresses one of the biggest pain points in any healthcare journey: waiting for a diagnosis.
Here’s how the expansion positively impacts your private health cover.
1. Quicker Diagnosis Leads to Quicker Treatment
The fundamental promise of PMI is speed. The CDC expansion accelerates the very first step. With more approved diagnostic facilities available, your insurer can authorise a scan at a local centre, often within days of your specialist referral.
A faster diagnosis means you and your consultant can agree on a treatment plan sooner. This could mean the difference between waiting weeks for a scan and a result, and getting the entire process done in under a week, allowing you to start treatment and recovery much earlier.
2. Unprecedented Choice and Convenience
No longer are private diagnostics confined to city-centre private hospitals. The new network of CDCs means you can get a private MRI, for example, at a facility that is easier and quicker for you to get to.
This increased convenience is a major quality-of-life benefit. It reduces:
- Time off work
- Travel costs and stress
- Disruption to family life
When you need a scan, your insurer will provide a list of approved facilities. Thanks to the CDC boom, that list is now longer and more local than ever before.
3. A Potential Long-Term Impact on Premiums
This is a more complex area, but it's worth considering. The cost of insurance claims is a major driver of premium prices.
- On one hand: Faster, earlier diagnosis can lead to conditions being treated at a less advanced (and less expensive) stage. For example, identifying a torn ligament early and treating it with physiotherapy might prevent the need for more costly surgery later. This could help control the long-term growth of claims costs.
- On the other hand: Making diagnostics easier to access could lead to an increase in the number of tests performed, which could drive up total claims costs.
Insurers are monitoring these trends closely. For now, the primary benefit for policyholders is the improved speed and service, but it's possible this efficiency could contribute to more stable premiums in the future. Working with an expert PMI broker like WeCovr can help you find the most cost-effective policy as the market evolves.
4. Blurring the Lines for a Better Patient Experience
The integration of private providers into the NHS diagnostic pathway is creating a more unified healthcare system. As a PMI holder, you might see a private specialist who refers you for a CT scan at a CDC that also serves NHS patients.
This isn't a downside; it's a huge advantage. It means you benefit from a multi-billion-pound government investment in infrastructure while using your insurance to skip the queue for the specialist consultation and the scan itself.
Using Your PMI for Diagnostics: A Step-by-Step Guide
Navigating your private medical insurance for tests and scans is straightforward if you follow the correct procedure. The most important rule is to always get pre-authorisation from your insurer before incurring any costs.
Here is a typical patient journey:
- Spot a Symptom & See a GP: You experience a new symptom (e.g., back pain, a persistent cough). You can either see your NHS GP or, if your policy includes it, use a 24/7 digital GP service for an immediate video consultation.
- Get a Specialist Referral: The GP determines you need to see a specialist (e.g., a neurologist or gastroenterologist) and provides a referral letter.
- Contact Your Insurer for Authorisation: This is the most critical step. Call your PMI provider's claims line with your policy number and referral details. They will confirm your cover is active and that the specialist is on their approved list. They will give you an authorisation code for the consultation.
- Attend the Specialist Consultation: You see the specialist, who examines you and decides which diagnostic tests are needed (e.g., an MRI of your spine).
- Get Authorisation for Diagnostics: You (or often, the specialist's secretary) call your insurer again with the details of the required scan. The insurer will provide another authorisation code and a list of approved diagnostic centres, which will now include many local CDCs.
- Book and Attend Your Scan: You choose the most convenient centre from the list and book your appointment. Because you are using PMI, this can often be done within 24-48 hours.
- Results and Treatment Plan: The scan results are sent directly to your specialist. They will then call you to discuss the findings and recommend a treatment plan (e.g., physiotherapy, medication, or surgery). This treatment plan will also require pre-authorisation from your insurer.
The Crucial Rule of Private Health Cover: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
It is vital for anyone considering private medical insurance to understand what it is designed for. Standard UK PMI policies are intended to cover acute conditions.
- An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include a hernia, cataracts, a joint injury requiring replacement, or most cancers.
PMI is not designed to cover:
- Pre-existing Conditions: Any illness, disease, or injury for which you have experienced symptoms, received medication, or sought advice in the years before your policy began (typically the last 5 years).
- Chronic Conditions: Illnesses that are long-lasting and cannot be fully cured. They can be managed but require ongoing or periodic care. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and Crohn's disease.
This is a fundamental principle of the UK PMI market. Your insurance is there to help you with new, unexpected health problems that arise after you take out your policy.
Choosing the Right PMI Policy in this Evolving Landscape
With the diagnostic landscape changing so quickly, picking the right policy is more important than ever. Here are the key features to focus on.
Outpatient Cover is King
Diagnostic tests and the specialist consultations that precede them fall under the "outpatient" section of your policy. If your policy has limited or no outpatient cover, you won't be able to take full advantage of the new, convenient CDC network.
When comparing policies, pay close attention to the level of outpatient cover:
| Level of Outpatient Cover | What It Typically Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Full Cover | No annual limit on the cost of specialist consultations and diagnostic tests. | Peace of mind and comprehensive protection. |
| Limited Cover | An annual financial limit (e.g., £500, £1,000, or £1,500) for all outpatient services. | Balancing cost and cover. Good for those on a budget. |
| No Outpatient Cover | The policy only covers treatment once you are admitted to hospital (inpatient/day-patient). | Those happy to use the NHS for diagnosis but want private treatment. |
For most people looking to benefit from rapid diagnostics, a policy with either Full or a generous Limited outpatient limit is the best choice.
Hospital and Diagnostic Centre Lists
Every insurer has a "hospital list"—a directory of the facilities where you can receive private treatment. These lists are now being updated to include the new wave of CDCs. An independent broker like WeCovr has access to the latest lists from all major insurers and can check that facilities near you are included.
The Value of an Expert Broker
The UK's private health insurance market is complex. A specialist broker works for you, not the insurance company.
- Expertise: We understand the small print and the differences between dozens of policies.
- Comparison: We compare the market to find a policy that matches your needs and budget.
- No Extra Cost: Our service is free to you; we are paid a commission by the insurer you choose.
- Support: We can help you at the point of claim, ensuring the process is smooth.
Beyond Diagnostics: The Wider Benefits of Modern PMI Policies
While fast diagnostics are a huge benefit, modern private health cover offers a holistic suite of services to support your overall wellbeing.
- Digital GP Access: Speak to a GP 24/7 from your smartphone. Get advice, prescriptions, and referrals without waiting for an appointment.
- Mental Health Support: Most top-tier policies now include comprehensive mental health cover, providing access to therapy sessions (like CBT), psychiatric care, and dedicated support helplines.
- Wellness Programmes: Some of the best PMI providers, like Vitality, offer rewards and discounts for staying active, eating well, and completing health checks.
- WeCovr's Added Value: When you arrange your PMI through us, you get complimentary access to our AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero, to support your health goals. We also offer discounts on other policies, such as life insurance, when you purchase PMI.
Real-Life Example: How Sarah Used Her PMI with a CDC
Sarah, a 45-year-old marketing manager from Birmingham, had been suffering from persistent knee pain for a month.
- The Journey Begins: Instead of waiting two weeks for an NHS GP appointment, she used her PMI's digital GP app and had a video call the same evening.
- Swift Referral: The GP suspected a meniscal tear and gave her an open referral to an orthopaedic specialist.
- Authorisation in Minutes: Sarah called her insurer, gave them the referral details, and got authorisation for a consultation immediately.
- Specialist & Scan: She saw the specialist two days later. He confirmed an MRI was needed to see the extent of the damage.
- Convenient Diagnosis: Sarah's insurer authorised the MRI and gave her a choice of three facilities. One was a brand-new CDC in a retail park just 10 minutes from her home. She booked an appointment for the very next day.
- Rapid Treatment: The MRI results were back with her specialist within 48 hours. He diagnosed a torn meniscus and recommended keyhole surgery. The entire process from GP consultation to a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan took just one week.
Without PMI, Sarah would have faced the standard NHS pathway. The median wait for a diagnostic test like an MRI can be several weeks, and the referral-to-treatment target is 18 weeks—a target that is often missed. The CDC and her PMI policy allowed her to bypass this wait entirely.
Do I have to use a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) if my insurer suggests it?
Can I get private health insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?
Does my PMI premium go up automatically if I use it for a diagnostic scan?
Why should I use a broker like WeCovr for private medical insurance?
The expansion of Community Diagnostic Centres is a game-changer for UK healthcare. It offers a tangible solution to lengthy diagnostic waits and brings state-of-the-art testing facilities into our local communities.
For those with the right private medical insurance, this development unlocks a new level of speed and convenience, ensuring you can get the answers you need and the treatment you deserve, faster than ever.
Ready to explore your options? Get a free, no-obligation PMI quote from WeCovr today and let our FCA-authorised experts find the perfect private health cover for your needs.
Why private medical insurance and how does it work?
What is Private Medical Insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI) is a type of health insurance that provides access to private healthcare services in the UK. It covers the cost of private medical treatment, allowing you to bypass NHS waiting lists and receive faster, more convenient care.How does it work?
Private medical insurance works by paying for your private healthcare costs. When you need treatment, you can choose to go private and your insurance will cover the costs, subject to your policy terms and conditions. This can include:• Private consultations with specialists
• Private hospital treatment and surgery
• Diagnostic tests and scans
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health treatment
Your premium depends on factors like your age, health, occupation, and the level of cover you choose. Most policies offer different levels of cover, from basic to comprehensive, allowing you to tailor the policy to your needs and budget.
Questions to ask yourself regarding private medical insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Are you concerned about NHS waiting times for treatment?
👉 Would you prefer to choose your own consultant and hospital?
👉 Do you want faster access to diagnostic tests and scans?
👉 Would you like private hospital accommodation and better food?
👉 Do you want to avoid the stress of NHS waiting lists?
Many people don't realise that private medical insurance is more affordable than they think, especially when you consider the value of faster treatment and better facilities. A great insurance policy can provide peace of mind and ensure you receive the care you need when you need it.
Benefits offered by private medical insurance
Private medical insurance provides numerous benefits that can significantly improve your healthcare experience and outcomes:Faster Access to Treatment
One of the biggest advantages is avoiding NHS waiting lists. While the NHS provides excellent care, waiting times can be lengthy. With private medical insurance, you can often receive treatment within days or weeks rather than months.
Choice of Consultant and Hospital
You can choose your preferred consultant and hospital, giving you more control over your healthcare journey. This is particularly important for complex treatments where you want a specific specialist.
Better Facilities and Accommodation
Private hospitals typically offer superior facilities, including private rooms, better food, and more comfortable surroundings. This can make your recovery more pleasant and potentially faster.
Advanced Treatments
Private medical insurance often covers treatments and medications not available on the NHS, giving you access to the latest medical advances and technologies.
Mental Health Support
Many policies include comprehensive mental health coverage, providing faster access to therapy and psychiatric care when needed.
Tax Benefits for Business Owners
If you're self-employed or a business owner, private medical insurance premiums can be tax-deductible, making it a cost-effective way to protect your health and your business.
Peace of Mind
Knowing you have access to private healthcare when you need it provides invaluable peace of mind, especially for those with ongoing health conditions or concerns about NHS capacity.
Private medical insurance is particularly valuable for those who want to take control of their healthcare journey and ensure they receive the best possible treatment when they need it most.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get private medical insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their private medical insurance cover in place before running into some serious health issues. Private medical insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, and even our phones! Yet our health is the most precious thing we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy private medical insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of private medical insurance policies available in the market, including different levels of cover and policy types most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced insurance experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to private medical insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable private medical insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:
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