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

Also called: MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

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, July 2026

Typical trust wait

2 weeks

median across 228 trusts

Fastest trust

under 1 week

shortest published median

Hospitals compared

228

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

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 July 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.