An NHS trial aims to cut prostate cancer diagnosis times from six weeks to a matter of days.

The current test for men with prostate cancer requires multiple visits and includes an MRI scan and an invasive biopsy where a dozen samples are taken.

A new 3D MRI scan, known as an mpMRI, provides higher quality imaging and provides up to 40% of patients with a same day diagnosis. 

The new technique is being trialled at Charing Cross Hospital, Epsom Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, where around 5,000 men will be tested over the next two years. 

Imperial College London chairman of urology Professor Hashim Ahmed said: "Fast access to high-quality prostate MRI allows many men to avoid invasive biopsies as well as allowing precision biopsy in those men requiring it to find high risk tumours much earlier...What we are hoping to do is show the NHS that this can be done, that it can be done cost-effectively and that we can improve the outcomes for men in a much better way than we were doing."

Simon Stevens, CEO of NHS England said: "This is an encouraging breakthrough in prostate cancer diagnosis that is genuinely world-leading. "

Claims in negligence against NHS doctors for delays in diagnosing cancer are on the increase. I would hope that this breakthrough will improve cancer detection rates and treatment cost-effectively, whilst also reducing the cost of claims in this area.

The NHS plans to cut prostate cancer diagnosis times from six weeks to a matter of days, NHS England has said.