NHS adds 125 scanners and AI software to perform one million extra scans a year

What was announced

The Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth announced that the NHS installed 125 new CT and MRI scanners from March 2024 to March 2026. Of those new machines, 107 went into community diagnostic centres. These centres completed nearly 2.2 million CT and MRI scans in the year ending March 2026, which is an increase of one million scans compared to the year ending March 2024.

The government also reported that 54% of compatible NHS MRI scanners now run artificial intelligence software. This technology reduces scan times by using less data to generate standard images. All NHS trusts will have the chance to update compatible scanners by 2029, which could allow up to 162,000 extra checks annually. Additionally, a new £19.2 million diagnostic centre opened in Manchester and Trafford on 29 October 2026.

What it means

Adding hardware and AI software gives doctors more capacity to examine patients and catch serious illnesses earlier. CT and MRI scans are standard tests for diagnosing lung, brain, breast, and prostate cancers.

According to NHS England data published on 3 November 2026, each month in 2026 set a monthly record for diagnostic activity. The overall elective care waiting list fell by more than 250,000 since July 2024. Diagnostic waiting lists dropped in three of the five months following April 2026. With AI software increasing scanning capacity by an average of 14% per machine, patients spend less time inside scanners during typical appointments, which usually last between 15 minutes and one hour.

What the announcement does not tell us

The announcement does not state the total cost of installing the 125 new scanners across England, outside the £19.2 million cost given for the Manchester and Trafford centre. It does not explain how many compatible MRI scanners currently exist across the NHS, nor how much it will cost to upgrade the remaining 46% of them.

The release also does not detail staffing levels. While Dr Stephen Harden of the Royal College of Radiologists noted that having enough workforce to analyze images is vital, the document does not say how many extra radiologists or radiographers have been hired to process the increased volume of scans. Finally, the announcement does not give specific figures for average wait times for cancer diagnoses or clarify which specific regions received the new machinery.