How long is the NHS wait for an MRI scan?

There is no single national wait — it depends on which hospital you are sent to. MRI waits vary between NHS trusts, sometimes several-fold, so the useful thing is to compare your own area. The table above ranks every English NHS trust that reports MRI, shortest median wait first, from NHS England's DM01 diagnostic figures.

Can I choose which hospital does my MRI scan?

For a planned, non-urgent test, often yes. In England you have a legal right, when your GP refers you, to ask to be seen at a hospital with a shorter wait — the NHS Right to Choose. Most people are never told this and go to their nearest by default. It does not apply to urgent or emergency tests.

What does "seen within 6 weeks" mean for MRI scan?

Six weeks is the NHS operational standard for diagnostic tests — patients should wait no longer than that. The "within 6 weeks" figure for each hospital is the share of its patients who met that standard; the median is the typical wait. Both come from NHS England's monthly DM01 statistics.

Diagnostics

NHS MRI scan waiting times

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses a strong magnet and radio waves — no X-rays — to make detailed pictures of soft tissue such as the brain, spine, joints and internal organs. MRI is used to look into persistent joint or back problems, neurological symptoms, and many other conditions where soft-tissue detail matters. It is one of the most-requested NHS scans. There is no single national wait: it depends heavily on which hospital you are sent to, and the spread between trusts is large. Below, every English NHS trust that reports MRI is ranked by its median wait, shortest first.

Compiled by Dr Mustafa Ghafouri (MBChB, MSc) · NHS England DM01 data, March 2026

Typical trust wait

2 weeks

median across 240 trusts

Fastest trust

under 1 week

shortest published median

Hospitals compared

240

English NHS trusts reporting MRI

If this is urgent: If your MRI has been requested to investigate a possible cancer, that should follow the NHS two-week-wait pathway, which is faster than a routine diagnostic list — ask your GP or team which route you are on.

Find your wait

Compare MRI scan waits near you

Enter your postcode to see the hospitals near you ranked by wait and distance. Free, independent, from NHS figures.

MRI scan waits by hospital, shortest first

Median wait and the percentage of patients seen within 6 weeks — the NHS operational standard for diagnostics. Trusts with very few patients are excluded so a median is meaningful.

#	Hospital trust	Median wait	Within 6 weeks
1	CHELSFIELD PARK HOSPITALORPINGTON	under 1 week	100%
2	BESPOKE HEALTHCARE LTDPRESTON	under 1 week	100%
3	BLACKHEATH HOSPITALLONDON	under 1 week	100%
4	NUFFIELD HEALTH, BRENTWOOD HOSPITALBRENTWOOD	under 1 week	100%
5	LINCOLN PRIVATE HOSPITALLINCOLN	under 1 week	100%
6	HENDON HOSPITALLONDON	under 1 week	100%
7	HIGHFIELD HOSPITALROCHDALE	under 1 week	100%
8	NUFFIELD HEALTH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALNEWCASTLE UPON TYNE	under 1 week	100%
9	KINGSTON AND RICHMOND NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKINGSTON UPON THAMES	under 1 week	100%
10	SHIRLEY OAKS HOSPITALCROYDON	under 1 week	100%
11	THE LIVING CARE GROUPLEEDS	under 1 week	100%
12	SLOANE HOSPITALBECKENHAM	under 1 week	100%
13	NUFFIELD HEALTH, BRISTOL HOSPITAL (CHESTERFIELD)BRISTOL	under 1 week	100%
14	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL - BARLBOROUGHCHESTERFIELD	under 1 week	100%
15	MAIDSTONE AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS NHS TRUSTMAIDSTONE	under 1 week	99%
16	LONDON INDEPENDENT HOSPITALLONDON	under 1 week	99%
17	NUFFIELD HEALTH, LEICESTER HOSPITALLEICESTER	under 1 week	98%
18	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL - SOUTHAMPTONSOUTHAMPTON	under 1 week	98%
19	WOODLANDS HOSPITALDARLINGTON	under 1 week	97%
20	MERIDEN HOSPITALCOVENTRY	under 1 week	96%
21	SPIRE ELLAND HOSPITALELLAND	under 1 week	94%
22	NUFFIELD HEALTH, YORK HOSPITALYORK	under 1 week	90%
23	NUFFIELD HEALTH, DERBY HOSPITALDERBY	under 1 week	84%
24	DUCHY HOSPITALTRURO	under 1 week	80%
25	TEES VALLEY HOSPITALMIDDLESBROUGH	under 1 week	70%
26	THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CENTRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST	about 1 week	100%
27	SPIRE WASHINGTON HOSPITALWASHINGTON	about 1 week	100%
28	SPIRE NOTTINGHAM HOSPITALNOTTINGHAM	about 1 week	100%
29	NORTH CHESHIRE AND MERSEY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTWARRINGTON	about 1 week	100%
30	BISHOPS WOOD HOSPITALNORTHWOOD	about 1 week	100%
31	BEAUMONT HOSPITALBOLTON	about 1 week	100%
32	DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM NHS TRUSTDARTFORD	about 1 week	100%
33	BEACON PARK HOSPITALSTAFFORD	about 1 week	100%
34	DROITWICH SPA HOSPITALDROITWICH	about 1 week	100%
35	GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSWINDON	about 1 week	100%
36	HOMERTON HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	about 1 week	100%
37	THORNBURY HOSPITALSHEFFIELD	about 1 week	100%
38	THE ROYAL MARSDEN NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	about 1 week	100%
39	SPIRE MURRAYFIELD HOSPITALWIRRAL	about 1 week	100%
40	TYNESIDE SURGICAL SERVICES LTDGATESHEAD	about 1 week	100%
41	NUFFIELD HEALTH, TEES HOSPITALSTOCKTON-ON-TEES	about 1 week	100%
42	ROYAL SURREY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTGUILDFORD	about 1 week	100%
43	ASHFORD AND ST PETER'S HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCHERTSEY	about 1 week	100%
44	ROYAL FREE LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	about 1 week	100%
45	GATESHEAD HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTGATESHEAD	about 1 week	99%
46	ISLE OF WIGHT NHS TRUSTNEWPORT	about 1 week	99%
47	TAMESIDE AND GLOSSOP INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTASHTON-UNDER-LYNE	about 1 week	99%
48	ROYAL NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL NHS TRUSTSTANMORE	about 1 week	99%
49	SHERWOOD FOREST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD	about 1 week	99%
50	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF MORECAMBE BAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKENDAL	about 1 week	99%
51	MID CHESHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCREWE	about 1 week	99%
52	BRADFORD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBRADFORD	about 1 week	99%
53	AIREDALE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKEIGHLEY	about 1 week	99%
54	BOLTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBOLTON	about 1 week	99%
55	INHEALTH LIMITEDBEACONSFIELD	about 1 week	98%
56	LEWISHAM AND GREENWICH NHS TRUSTLONDON	about 1 week	98%
57	SPIRE REGENCY HOSPITALMACCLESFIELD	about 1 week	98%
58	THE CHRISTIE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTMANCHESTER	about 1 week	97%
59	WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBURY ST. EDMUNDS	about 1 week	97%
60	SULIS HOSPITAL BATH (FOXCOTE AVENUE)BATH	about 1 week	97%
61	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTPOOLE	about 1 week	97%
62	HUDDERSFIELD PRIVATE HOSPITALHUDDERSFIELD	about 1 week	97%
63	ROYAL UNITED HOSPITALS BATH NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBATH	about 1 week	97%
64	BEACON MEDICAL SERVICES GROUP LIMITEDMANCHESTER	about 1 week	97%
65	SUSSEX COMMUNITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBRIGHTON	about 1 week	97%
66	CLEMENTINE CHURCHILL HOSPITALHARROW	about 1 week	97%
67	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS SUSSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTWORTHING	about 1 week	97%
68	STOCKPORT NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSTOCKPORT	about 1 week	96%
69	IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUSTLONDON	about 1 week	96%
70	CHESTERFIELD ROYAL HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCHESTERFIELD	about 1 week	95%
71	SPIRE ALEXANDRA HOSPITALCHATHAM	about 1 week	95%
72	SPIRE HARTSWOOD HOSPITALBRENTWOOD	about 1 week	95%
73	BEARDWOOD HOSPITALBLACKBURN	about 1 week	94%
74	SOUTH TEES HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTMIDDLESBROUGH	about 1 week	94%
75	CLIFTON PARK HOSPITALYORK	about 1 week	94%
76	RENACRES HOSPITALORMSKIRK	about 1 week	93%
77	NEW HALL HOSPITALSALISBURY	about 1 week	92%
78	WOODLAND HOSPITALKETTERING	about 1 week	92%
79	SPIRE METHLEY PARK HOSPITALLEEDS	about 1 week	92%
80	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUSTCOVENTRY	about 1 week	92%
81	SPIRE FYLDE COAST HOSPITALBLACKPOOL	about 1 week	91%
82	MERSEY AND WEST LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTPRESCOT	about 1 week	90%
83	SPIRE CHESHIRE HOSPITALWARRINGTON	about 1 week	88%
84	THE HILLINGDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTUXBRIDGE	about 1 week	88%
85	SPIRE GATWICK PARK HOSPITALHORLEY	about 1 week	84%
86	WINFIELD HOSPITALGLOUCESTER	about 1 week	81%
87	WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTWORCESTER	about 1 week	77%
88	WOODTHORPE HOSPITALNOTTINGHAM	about 1 week	76%
89	SPIRE MONTEFIORE HOSPITALHOVE	2 weeks	100%
90	ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST	2 weeks	100%
91	NUFFIELD HEALTH, HEREFORD HOSPITALHEREFORD	2 weeks	100%
92	THE ROTHERHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTROTHERHAM	2 weeks	100%
93	NUFFIELD HEALTH, THE GROSVENOR HOSPITAL, CHESTERCHESTER	2 weeks	100%
94	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP SURGICAL CENTRE - DEVIZESDEVIZES	2 weeks	100%
95	NORTH BRISTOL NHS TRUSTBRISTOL	2 weeks	100%
96	OAKLANDS HOSPITALSALFORD	2 weeks	100%
97	THE WALTON CENTRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLIVERPOOL	2 weeks	99%
98	EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTCARSHALTON	2 weeks	99%
99	CROYDON HEALTH SERVICES NHS TRUSTTHORNTON HEATH	2 weeks	99%
100	QUEEN VICTORIA HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTEAST GRINSTEAD	2 weeks	99%
101	THE ROYAL WOLVERHAMPTON NHS TRUSTWOLVERHAMPTON	2 weeks	99%
102	GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCHELTENHAM	2 weeks	99%
103	MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	2 weeks	99%
104	MILTON KEYNES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTMILTON KEYNES	2 weeks	99%
105	THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, KING'S LYNN, NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKING'S LYNN	2 weeks	99%
106	NORTHUMBRIA HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTNORTH SHIELDS	2 weeks	99%
107	WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGH TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTWIGAN	2 weeks	99%
108	SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTWARWICK	2 weeks	98%
109	LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLIVERPOOL	2 weeks	98%
110	LANCASHIRE & SOUTH CUMBRIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTPRESTON	2 weeks	98%
111	MEDWAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTGILLINGHAM	2 weeks	98%
112	THE DUDLEY GROUP NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTDUDLEY	2 weeks	97%
113	NORTHERN CARE ALLIANCE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSALFORD	2 weeks	97%
114	ROYAL CORNWALL HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTTRURO	2 weeks	97%
115	CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	2 weeks	96%
116	THREE SHIRES HOSPITALNORTHAMPTON	2 weeks	96%
117	THE ROBERT JONES AND AGNES HUNT ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTOSWESTRY	2 weeks	96%
118	WYE VALLEY NHS TRUSTHEREFORD	2 weeks	96%
119	PINEHILL HOSPITALHITCHIN	2 weeks	95%
120	EAST CHESHIRE NHS TRUSTMACCLESFIELD	2 weeks	95%
121	LIVERPOOL HEART AND CHEST HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLIVERPOOL	2 weeks	95%
122	NORTH TEES AND HARTLEPOOL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTHARTLEPOOL	2 weeks	95%
123	SPIRE LEEDS HOSPITALLEEDS	2 weeks	95%
124	NORTH DOWNS HOSPITALCATERHAM	2 weeks	95%
125	WHITTINGTON HEALTH NHS TRUSTLONDON	2 weeks	95%
126	SPIRE LONDON EASTILFORD	2 weeks	95%
127	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER NHS TRUSTLEICESTER	2 weeks	95%
128	WEST HERTFORDSHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTWATFORD	2 weeks	94%
129	THE CHERWELL HOSPITALBANBURY	2 weeks	94%
130	DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTDORCHESTER	2 weeks	94%
131	CALDERDALE AND HUDDERSFIELD NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTHUDDERSFIELD	2 weeks	93%
132	COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTDARLINGTON	2 weeks	93%
133	ST GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	2 weeks	93%
134	HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBASINGSTOKE	2 weeks	93%
135	NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTNORWICH	2 weeks	93%
136	EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTBLACKBURN	2 weeks	92%
137	STOURSIDE HOSPITALSTOURBRIDGE	2 weeks	92%
138	SPIRE BRISTOL HOSPITALBRISTOL	2 weeks	92%
139	LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTLEEDS	2 weeks	91%
140	COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCHESTER	2 weeks	90%
141	THE YORKSHIRE CLINICBINGLEY	2 weeks	90%
142	WEST MIDLANDS HOSPITALHALESOWEN	2 weeks	90%
143	UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOUTHAMPTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSOUTHAMPTON	2 weeks	90%
144	YORK AND SCARBOROUGH TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTYORK	2 weeks	89%
145	SOMERSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTTAUNTON	2 weeks	89%
146	MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTMANCHESTER	2 weeks	88%
147	WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTWIRRAL	2 weeks	88%
148	BRISTOL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBRISTOL	2 weeks	88%
149	LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTPRESTON	2 weeks	88%
150	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH NHS TRUSTPLYMOUTH	2 weeks	88%
151	THE SHREWSBURY AND TELFORD HOSPITAL NHS TRUSTSHREWSBURY	2 weeks	88%
152	OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTOXFORD	2 weeks	86%
153	EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCOLCHESTER	2 weeks	86%
154	ROWLEY HALL HOSPITALSTAFFORD	2 weeks	86%
155	BOSTON WEST HOSPITALBOSTON	2 weeks	85%
156	LONDON NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUSTHARROW	2 weeks	85%
157	NUFFIELD HEALTH, LEEDS HOSPITALLEEDS	2 weeks	85%
158	BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUSTAMERSHAM	2 weeks	82%
159	THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTNEWCASTLE UPON TYNE	2 weeks	82%
160	BLACKPOOL TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBLACKPOOL	2 weeks	82%
161	MOUNT STUART HOSPITALTORQUAY	2 weeks	82%
162	NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCARLISLE	2 weeks	81%
163	THE HORDER CENTRE - ST JOHNS ROADCROWBOROUGH	2 weeks	81%
164	GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	2 weeks	80%
165	KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	2 weeks	79%
166	SALISBURY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSALISBURY	2 weeks	77%
167	ROYAL BERKSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTREADING	2 weeks	75%
168	SPIRE NORWICH HOSPITALNORWICH	2 weeks	75%
169	SPIRE LITTLE ASTON HOSPITALSUTTON COLDFIELD	2 weeks	73%
170	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL - EMERSONS GREENBRISTOL	3 weeks	100%
171	THE ROYAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBIRMINGHAM	3 weeks	100%
172	BARNSLEY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBARNSLEY	3 weeks	100%
173	FAIRFIELD INDEPENDENT HOSPITALST. HELENS	3 weeks	98%
174	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL - SHEPTON MALLETSHEPTON MALLET	3 weeks	95%
175	MEDEFERLONDON	3 weeks	93%
176	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL - PLYMOUTHPLYMOUTH	3 weeks	91%
177	FITZWILLIAM HOSPITALPETERBOROUGH	3 weeks	90%
178	HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSOUTHAMPTON	3 weeks	87%
179	FULWOOD HALL HOSPITALPRESTON	3 weeks	86%
180	THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL NHS TRUSTHARLOW	3 weeks	86%
181	ASHTEAD HOSPITALASHTEAD	3 weeks	85%
182	SPIRE LIVERPOOL HOSPITALLIVERPOOL	3 weeks	85%
183	SPRINGFIELD HOSPITALCHELMSFORD	3 weeks	85%
184	OAKS HOSPITALCOLCHESTER	3 weeks	84%
185	GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL NHS TRUSTNUNEATON	3 weeks	83%
186	SPIRE BUSHEY HOSPITALBUSHEY	3 weeks	82%
187	HULL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTHULL	3 weeks	80%
188	BLAKELANDS HOSPITALMILTON KEYNES	3 weeks	79%
189	SURREY AND SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUSTREDHILL	3 weeks	79%
190	MID AND SOUTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTWESTCLIFF-ON-SEA	3 weeks	78%
191	SPIRE ST ANTHONY'S HOSPITALSUTTON	3 weeks	76%
192	EAST SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUSTST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA	3 weeks	75%
193	FRIMLEY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCAMBERLEY	3 weeks	75%
194	BUCKSHAW HOSPITALCHORLEY	3 weeks	74%
195	SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSHEFFIELD	3 weeks	74%
196	NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS TRUSTNORTHAMPTON	3 weeks	72%
197	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBIRMINGHAM	3 weeks	71%
198	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF NORTH MIDLANDS NHS TRUSTSTOKE-ON-TRENT	3 weeks	70%
199	GLENDON WOOD HOSPITALKETTERING	3 weeks	69%
200	BARTS HEALTH NHS TRUSTLONDON	3 weeks	69%
201	GUY'S AND ST THOMAS' NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	3 weeks	66%
202	SOUTH TYNESIDE AND SUNDERLAND NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSUNDERLAND	3 weeks	66%
203	TORBAY AND SOUTH DEVON NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTTORQUAY	3 weeks	65%
204	THE BERKSHIRE INDEPENDENT HOSPITALREADING	3 weeks	60%
205	THE HAMPTONS HOSPITAL LTDPETERBOROUGH	4 weeks	92%
206	PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAMBIRMINGHAM	4 weeks	83%
207	ROYAL PAPWORTH HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCAMBRIDGE	4 weeks	74%
208	RIVERS HOSPITALSAWBRIDGEWORTH	4 weeks	71%
209	SHEFFIELD CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTSHEFFIELD	4 weeks	68%
210	EAST KENT HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCANTERBURY	4 weeks	68%
211	BIRMINGHAM WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTBIRMINGHAM	4 weeks	67%
212	SPIRE HARPENDEN HOSPITALHARPENDEN	4 weeks	66%
213	EUXTON HALL HOSPITALCHORLEY	4 weeks	65%
214	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLONDON	4 weeks	64%
215	CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTCAMBRIDGE	4 weeks	63%
216	DONCASTER AND BASSETLAW TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTDONCASTER	4 weeks	62%
217	UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF DERBY AND BURTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTDERBY	4 weeks	62%
218	ROYAL DEVON UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTEXETER	4 weeks	61%
219	NORTHERN LINCOLNSHIRE AND GOOLE NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTGRIMSBY	4 weeks	61%
220	SANDWELL AND WEST BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTSMETHWICK	4 weeks	59%
221	BEDFORDSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTLUTON	4 weeks	59%
222	WALSALL HEALTHCARE NHS TRUSTWALSALL	4 weeks	58%
223	JAMES PAGET UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTGREAT YARMOUTH	4 weeks	56%
224	NORTH WEST ANGLIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTPETERBOROUGH	5 weeks	58%
225	PORTSMOUTH HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NHS TRUSTPORTSMOUTH	5 weeks	55%
226	EAST AND NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE TEACHING NHS TRUSTSTEVENAGE	5 weeks	55%
227	NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTNOTTINGHAM	5 weeks	54%
228	CORA HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS (FORMERLY HEALTHSHARE DIAGNOSTICS)WEST MALLING	5 weeks	52%
229	UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTLINCOLN	6 weeks	50%
230	HARROGATE AND DISTRICT NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTHARROGATE	6 weeks	47%
231	KETTERING GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUSTKETTERING	6 weeks	47%
232	OMNES HEALTHCARE LTDSALFORD	6 weeks	44%
233	MID YORKSHIRE TEACHING NHS TRUSTWAKEFIELD	7 weeks	43%
234	SPIRE PARKWAY HOSPITALSOLIHULL	7 weeks	18%
235	SPIRE LEICESTER HOSPITALLEICESTER	9 weeks	28%
236	SPIRE HULL AND EAST RIDING HOSPITALHULL	11 weeks	44%
237	PARK HILL HOSPITALDONCASTER	11 weeks	29%
238	PRIORY HOSPITALBIRMINGHAM	12 weeks	40%
239	SPIRE WELLESLEY HOSPITALSOUTHEND-ON-SEA	13 weeks	32%
240	SPIRE SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITALSOUTHAMPTON	13 weeks	0%

Can I choose where I have my MRI?

For a planned, non-urgent diagnostic test you often can. In England you have a legal right, when your GP refers you, to ask to be seen at a different hospital — including one with a shorter wait. Most people are never told this and go to their nearest by default.

How the NHS Right to Choose works

Where these numbers come from

Waits are from NHS England's monthly Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity (DM01) statistics, for March 2026. Each figure is the trust's median wait for that test; “within 6 weeks” is the NHS operational standard. Nothing here is medical advice — the site surfaces the published data so you and your GP can use it.

NHS England DM01 source data

Frequently asked questions

How long is the NHS wait for an MRI scan?: There is no single national wait — it depends on which hospital you are sent to. MRI waits vary between NHS trusts, sometimes several-fold, so the useful thing is to compare your own area. The table above ranks every English NHS trust that reports MRI, shortest median wait first, from NHS England's DM01 diagnostic figures.
Can I choose which hospital does my MRI scan?: For a planned, non-urgent test, often yes. In England you have a legal right, when your GP refers you, to ask to be seen at a hospital with a shorter wait — the NHS Right to Choose. Most people are never told this and go to their nearest by default. It does not apply to urgent or emergency tests.
What does "seen within 6 weeks" mean for MRI scan?: Six weeks is the NHS operational standard for diagnostic tests — patients should wait no longer than that. The "within 6 weeks" figure for each hospital is the share of its patients who met that standard; the median is the typical wait. Both come from NHS England's monthly DM01 statistics.
Is the MRI scan wait different if it is urgent or to check for cancer?: If your MRI has been requested to investigate a possible cancer, that should follow the NHS two-week-wait pathway, which is faster than a routine diagnostic list — ask your GP or team which route you are on.

Compare other NHS scans and tests

All NHS diagnostic waiting times

See also our guide to NHS neurology waiting times.