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How long is the NHS wait for a scan or test? Diagnostics like an MRI, CT, ultrasound or endoscopy are reported separately from surgery, and the wait varies a lot between hospitals. Pick a test to compare every English NHS trust, ranked shortest first — from NHS England's own figures.
Compiled by Dr Mustafa Ghafouri (MBChB, MSc) · NHS England DM01 data, March 2026
For a planned, non-urgent scan or test, the NHS Right to Choose lets you ask your GP to refer you to a hospital with a shorter wait — including one further afield. Most people are never told this.
All waits are from NHS England's monthly Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity (DM01) statistics, for March 2026. Each figure is a trust's median wait for that test. Nothing here is medical advice — it surfaces the published data so you and your GP can use it.