Diagnostic priorities for 2026/27

The NENC Provider Collaborative has agreed new priorities for the Diagnostic Programme for 2026/27. These priorities set out how organisations will keep working together to improve diagnostic services across the North East and North Cumbria.

National funding for the diagnostic programme has now ended. Because of this, the work for 2026/27 will focus on a small number of shared priorities. This will help services give faster results and continue to meet national standards, including those for cancer care.

Diagnostics are an important part of most patient journeys. They support planned care, urgent care and cancer services. The Diagnostic Programme brings national goals and local plans together into one clear system‑wide approach.

The programme focuses on three main areas. These are increasing capacity, improving how services work, and making sure patients get the right test at the right time. Working in this way helps services use staff and equipment better and reduce differences across the region.

During 2026/27, there will be a strong focus on using current diagnostic capacity as well as possible. This includes improving how services plan for future demand, supporting more tests in Community Diagnostic Centres, and making better use of digital systems. New dashboards will also help teams see and manage activity more clearly.

Work will continue to improve how diagnostic services run each day. This includes more digital and shared reporting, better laboratory IT systems, and easier ways to request and receive test results. These changes aim to reduce delays and support the workforce.

There will also be a focus on using tests well. Better data will help improve referrals and reduce tests that are not needed. New decision support tools will be tested, and work will continue to agree a safe and consistent approach to Point of Care Testing.

Together, these priorities will help services meet national standards, speed up test results, and improve the experience for patients. By focusing on a small number of shared goals, the Diagnostic Programme will continue to support safe, timely and high‑quality diagnostics across the region.

Find out more about the Diagnostic programme here.

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