How to read these waiting bands
These bands describe elapsed waits among pathways still waiting at the stated period end, not time until an appointment or completed treatment. A range such as 3–<4 includes 3 but excludes 4 weeks; >3–4 excludes 3 and includes 4. 13+ has no upper bound; >104 means more than 104 weeks. Chart bars mark the finite upper bound or, for open bands, the lower bound; tied bands cannot rank individual waits.
Waiting time for MRI scan NHS
How long is the wait for an MRI scan on the NHS? The national DM01 median is 3–<4 weeks (90th percentile 10–<11). Trust-level diagnostic waits below come from NHS England's monthly return.
Reviewed by PlainNHS ·
Median wait
3–<4 weeks
Within 6-week reference · national median for MRI Scan
Annual NHS volume
2,100,000
Approx. annual activity (separate source)
90th percentile
10–<11 weeks
Beyond 6-week reference · Elapsed-wait 90th-percentile band
Pick a profiled NHS Trust to open a side-by-side wait comparison for mri scan against another trust you choose next.
National median for mri scan is 3–<4 weeks (90th percentile 10–<11), among pathways still waiting at the end of DM01-MAY-2026; it does not measure completed treatment. Among the 11 trusts PlainNHS profiles, medians run from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children at 2–<3 weeks to Cambridge University Hospitals at 4–<5 weeks. English diagnostic providers with lists of 100+ span about 0–1 to 13+ weeks. Source: NHS England DM01 diagnostics, period
- Among 11 profiled trusts, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children has a shorter median band at 2–<3 weeks vs Cambridge University Hospitals at 4–<5
- English diagnostic providers with lists of 100+ span about 0–1 to 13+ weeks
- About 2,100,000 completed pathways a year nationally for mri scan
The wait picture
National median for mri scan is 3–<4 weeks (90th percentile 10–<11), among pathways still waiting at the end of DM01-MAY-2026; it does not measure completed treatment. Among the 11 trusts PlainNHS profiles, medians run from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children at 2–<3 weeks to Cambridge University Hospitals at 4–<5 weeks. English diagnostic providers with lists of 100+ span about 0–1 to 13+ weeks.
- 3–<4 wks
- National median wait for MRI Scan
- 10–<11 wks
- 90th percentile (elapsed wait among those still waiting)
- 2–<3 wks
- Shortest profiled median band (Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children)
- 4–<5 wks
- Longest profiled median band (Cambridge University Hospitals)
Profiled trusts: 11. Figures are the named diagnostic test from DM01. Period DM01-MAY-2026.
How to read this pathway
For diagnostic-only pathways such as mri scan, the operational standard patients usually hear about is the 6-week diagnostic waiting-times target in NHS England's monthly DM01 return - not the 18-week Referral-to-Treatment (RTT) incomplete-pathway standard that covers consultant-led elective treatment.
Patients have a statutory right to choose where they are referred at the point of GP referral. The chart and table below show each profiled trust's reported wait for mri scan (outpatient) from NHS England's monthly diagnostics return.
MRI Scan median at profiled trusts
Sorted ascending. Named diagnostic test from NHS England DM01. Period DM01-MAY-2026.
Share within 6 weeks at profiled trusts
Sorted descending. Same NHS England return as the median chart; useful when choosing between trusts on the same pathway.
MRI Scan (Outpatient) waits at profiled trusts
From NHS England's monthly diagnostics return (DM01) for DM01-MAY-2026. Diagnostic tests are measured against a six-week standard, not the 18-week referral-to-treatment pathway, and unlike the specialty figures elsewhere on this site these are for mri scan (outpatient) specifically. Across every English provider with a list of 100 or more, the median wait runs from about 0–1 to 13+ weeks. Waits are reported in one-week bands: 2–<3 means at least 2 but less than 3 weeks already elapsed; 13+ has no finite upper bound.
| NHS Trust | Region | Median (wks) | Within 6wks | Waiting | 13+ wks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust | London | 2–<3 | 79.1% | 847 | 40 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | London | 2–<3 | 82.9% | 4,314 | 33 |
| Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | London | 2–<3 | 77.6% | 3,422 | 373 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Yorkshire & Humber | 2–<3 | 90.3% | 3,245 | 58 |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | North West | 2–<3 | 84.2% | 6,180 | 314 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | South East | 2–<3 | 87.3% | 4,704 | 93 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | London | 2–<3 | 95.3% | 4,320 | 9 |
| Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust | London | 3–<4 | 68.1% | 6,961 | 332 |
| The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | North East | 3–<4 | 76.7% | 3,950 | 131 |
| Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | East of England | 4–<5 | 64.5% | 4,830 | 167 |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | London | 4–<5 | 65.4% | 7,993 | 773 |
Source: NHS England monthly diagnostics (DM01), DM01-MAY-2026. Covers the 11 profiled trusts reporting this test to NHS England.
MRI Scan (Outpatient) waiting bands nationally
Showing 166 of 166 qualifying English NHS providers reporting mri scan (outpatient) to NHS England's DM01 return for DM01-MAY-2026 - a wider national view than the profiled-trusts table above, which is limited to the trusts this site covers in depth. Only providers with 100 or more incomplete pathways are included. Rows are ordered by median band; equal bands do not establish faster treatment.
| Provider | Region | Median (wks) | Within 6wks | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSSEX COMMUNITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 0–<1 | 91.5% | 129 |
| INHEALTH LIMITED | - | 1–<2 | 99% | 3,249 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DORSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 96% | 2,472 |
| SOUTH TEES HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 93% | 2,025 |
| MERSEY AND WEST LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 84.2% | 1,959 |
| MEDICAL IMAGING PARTNERSHIP LTD | - | 1–<2 | 88.2% | 1,761 |
| YORK AND SCARBOROUGH TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 93.9% | 1,603 |
| MAIDSTONE AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.2% | 1,602 |
| NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 92.2% | 1,546 |
| LEWISHAM AND GREENWICH NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 97.2% | 1,395 |
| ROYAL UNITED HOSPITALS BATH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 96.8% | 1,373 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF MORECAMBE BAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 98.5% | 1,365 |
| EPSOM AND ST HELIER UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.8% | 1,324 |
| LANCASHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 98.5% | 1,299 |
| NORTH CHESHIRE AND MERSEY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.5% | 1,189 |
| HOMERTON HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 100% | 1,184 |
| STOCKPORT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.9% | 1,064 |
| DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 100% | 1,033 |
| GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.5% | 968 |
| MEDWAY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 97.6% | 959 |
| ASHFORD AND ST PETER'S HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.6% | 937 |
| ROYAL SURREY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.7% | 922 |
| BRADFORD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 97.9% | 863 |
| ROYAL NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 98.6% | 813 |
| BOLTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 97.9% | 778 |
| TAMESIDE AND GLOSSOP INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 100% | 777 |
| KINGSTON AND RICHMOND NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 100% | 676 |
| AIREDALE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 98.6% | 586 |
| THE HILLINGDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 94.5% | 511 |
| THE CHRISTIE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.6% | 488 |
| ISLE OF WIGHT NHS TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 100% | 396 |
| MILTON KEYNES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 88.2% | 331 |
| DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 94% | 317 |
| THE ROYAL MARSDEN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.7% | 295 |
| ALLIANCE MEDICAL MRI SERVICE - ESSEX | - | 1–<2 | 100% | 261 |
| FITZWILLIAM HOSPITAL | - | 1–<2 | 95.7% | 233 |
| THE CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER CENTRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 1–<2 | 99.3% | 151 |
| SPIRE LONDON EAST | - | 1–<2 | 91.1% | 146 |
| SPIRE ST ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL | - | 1–<2 | 91.7% | 132 |
| LONDON INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL | - | 1–<2 | 99.1% | 109 |
| SPIRE BUSHEY HOSPITAL | - | 1–<2 | 97% | 101 |
| BEACON MEDICAL SERVICES GROUP LIMITED | - | 1–<2 | 97% | 100 |
| SPIRE ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL | - | 1–<2 | 98% | 100 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 76.6% | 7,720 |
| NORTHERN CARE ALLIANCE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 96.7% | 7,054 |
| MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | North West | 2–<3 | 84.2% | 6,180 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF LEICESTER NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 89.9% | 5,563 |
| OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | South East | 2–<3 | 87.3% | 4,704 |
| ROYAL FREE LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | London | 2–<3 | 95.3% | 4,320 |
| IMPERIAL COLLEGE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST | London | 2–<3 | 82.9% | 4,314 |
| LONDON NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 87.2% | 4,017 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 91.9% | 3,792 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BRISTOL AND WESTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 89.5% | 3,640 |
| NORFOLK AND NORWICH UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 91.1% | 3,435 |
| KING'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | London | 2–<3 | 77.6% | 3,422 |
| EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 87.8% | 3,338 |
| LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | Yorkshire & Humber | 2–<3 | 90.3% | 3,245 |
| THE ROYAL WOLVERHAMPTON NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99.4% | 3,137 |
| NORTH BRISTOL NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99% | 3,130 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS SUSSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 92.8% | 2,926 |
| THE SHREWSBURY AND TELFORD HOSPITAL NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 85.3% | 2,893 |
| ST GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 96.7% | 2,761 |
| NORTHUMBRIA HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99% | 2,679 |
| LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 95.5% | 2,629 |
| ROYAL CORNWALL HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 95.9% | 2,602 |
| CROYDON HEALTH SERVICES NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 97.2% | 2,416 |
| FRIMLEY HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 85% | 2,404 |
| CALDERDALE AND HUDDERSFIELD NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 93.6% | 2,366 |
| CHELSEA AND WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 95.1% | 2,308 |
| EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 98.4% | 2,231 |
| WEST HERTFORDSHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 95.9% | 2,123 |
| SHERWOOD FOREST HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 96.2% | 2,009 |
| THE DUDLEY GROUP NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 95.9% | 1,951 |
| SOMERSET NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 86.8% | 1,916 |
| WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGH TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99.3% | 1,815 |
| BUCKINGHAMSHIRE HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 82.2% | 1,790 |
| BLACKPOOL TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 83% | 1,780 |
| SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 96.2% | 1,771 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOUTHAMPTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 89.9% | 1,766 |
| HAMPSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 94% | 1,725 |
| WYE VALLEY NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 94.9% | 1,716 |
| GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99% | 1,656 |
| MID CHESHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 98.7% | 1,613 |
| WHITTINGTON HEALTH NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 93.7% | 1,591 |
| NORTH TEES AND HARTLEPOOL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 94.9% | 1,447 |
| THE WALTON CENTRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99.9% | 1,441 |
| WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 77% | 1,340 |
| WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 97% | 1,322 |
| CHESTERFIELD ROYAL HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 93.7% | 1,308 |
| COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 91.1% | 1,293 |
| THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, KING'S LYNN, NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 93.5% | 1,282 |
| EAST CHESHIRE NHS TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 86% | 1,193 |
| THE ROBERT JONES AND AGNES HUNT ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 92.9% | 1,029 |
| LIVERPOOL HEART AND CHEST HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 92.3% | 974 |
| HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 97.5% | 952 |
| SALISBURY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 83.6% | 879 |
| GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | London | 2–<3 | 79.1% | 847 |
| THE ROTHERHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 99.9% | 740 |
| WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 89% | 737 |
| GATESHEAD HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 100% | 590 |
| QUEEN VICTORIA HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 100% | 273 |
| SULIS HOSPITAL BATH (FOXCOTE AVENUE) | - | 2–<3 | 98% | 249 |
| COBALT HEALTH | - | 2–<3 | 91.2% | 217 |
| MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 96.9% | 191 |
| WOODLAND HOSPITAL | - | 2–<3 | 92.8% | 180 |
| NEW HALL HOSPITAL | - | 2–<3 | 89.6% | 173 |
| OAKLANDS HOSPITAL | - | 2–<3 | 100% | 149 |
| ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 2–<3 | 100% | 128 |
| THE YORKSHIRE CLINIC | - | 2–<3 | 85.6% | 125 |
| THREE SHIRES HOSPITAL | - | 2–<3 | 99.1% | 107 |
| SPIRE GATWICK PARK HOSPITAL | - | 2–<3 | 91.3% | 103 |
| CORA HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS (FORMERLY HEALTHSHARE DIAGNOSTICS) | - | 3–<4 | 61.2% | 8,521 |
| MID AND SOUTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 82.4% | 7,195 |
| GUY'S AND ST THOMAS' NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | London | 3–<4 | 68.1% | 6,961 |
| BARTS HEALTH NHS TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 69.5% | 6,438 |
| THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | North East | 3–<4 | 76.7% | 3,950 |
| COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 88.1% | 3,388 |
| EAST SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 82.2% | 3,219 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PLYMOUTH NHS TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 77.9% | 3,135 |
| ROYAL BERKSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 78.4% | 3,077 |
| GEORGE ELIOT HOSPITAL NHS TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 78.1% | 1,771 |
| SOUTH TYNESIDE AND SUNDERLAND NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 76.6% | 1,626 |
| HARROGATE AND DISTRICT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 73% | 879 |
| THE ROYAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 99.8% | 609 |
| BIRMINGHAM WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 70% | 600 |
| FULWOOD HALL HOSPITAL | - | 3–<4 | 76.7% | 262 |
| PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL - SHEPTON MALLET | - | 3–<4 | 86.2% | 253 |
| THE CHERWELL HOSPITAL | - | 3–<4 | 71.6% | 190 |
| EUXTON HALL HOSPITAL | - | 3–<4 | 73.9% | 161 |
| LANCASHIRE & SOUTH CUMBRIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 3–<4 | 84.2% | 146 |
| EAST KENT HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 59.2% | 12,455 |
| UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | London | 4–<5 | 65.4% | 7,993 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF NORTH MIDLANDS NHS TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 70.3% | 6,382 |
| SHEFFIELD TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 69% | 5,172 |
| CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | East of England | 4–<5 | 64.5% | 4,830 |
| HULL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 67.8% | 4,656 |
| BEDFORDSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 60.8% | 4,610 |
| NORTH WEST ANGLIA NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 59.3% | 4,399 |
| ROYAL DEVON UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 59.3% | 4,345 |
| NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 65.8% | 4,084 |
| EAST AND NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE TEACHING NHS TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 59.3% | 3,077 |
| SURREY AND SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 74.7% | 2,691 |
| MID & SOUTH BUCKINGHAMSHIRE DIAGNOSTIC NHS CENTRE | - | 4–<5 | 64.3% | 1,519 |
| TORBAY AND SOUTH DEVON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 63.2% | 1,250 |
| BARNSLEY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 81.2% | 467 |
| SPRINGFIELD HOSPITAL | - | 4–<5 | 61.2% | 405 |
| SHEFFIELD CHILDREN'S NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 4–<5 | 68.3% | 331 |
| PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HOSPITAL BIRMINGHAM | - | 4–<5 | 87.5% | 112 |
| SANDWELL AND WEST BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 55.9% | 8,439 |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF DERBY AND BURTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 59% | 7,874 |
| NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 53.7% | 6,609 |
| MID YORKSHIRE TEACHING NHS TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 53.9% | 5,247 |
| WALSALL HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 54.2% | 5,022 |
| NORTHERN LINCOLNSHIRE AND GOOLE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 52% | 4,835 |
| DONCASTER AND BASSETLAW TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 55% | 3,592 |
| JAMES PAGET UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 53.1% | 3,466 |
| THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL NHS TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 59.6% | 3,109 |
| PORTSMOUTH HOSPITALS UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST | - | 5–<6 | 55.4% | 2,592 |
| RIVERS HOSPITAL | - | 5–<6 | 58.7% | 351 |
| BARKING, HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 6–<7 | 46.2% | 8,434 |
| UNITED LINCOLNSHIRE TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | - | 6–<7 | 46.9% | 7,002 |
| KETTERING GENERAL HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 6–<7 | 49.4% | 3,975 |
| OMNES HEALTHCARE LTD | - | 8–<9 | 34.9% | 487 |
| SPIRE HULL AND EAST RIDING HOSPITAL | - | 11–<12 | 23.8% | 516 |
| ROYAL PAPWORTH HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | - | 13+ | 26% | 1,011 |
| SPIRE WELLESLEY HOSPITAL | - | 13+ | 33.1% | 139 |
Source: NHS England monthly diagnostics (DM01), DM01-MAY-2026. Most providers below are outside this site's profiled-trust roster and so have no linked page.
The national queue behind this figure
The national median above (3–<4 weeks) sits behind 380,023 patients waiting for a mri scan (outpatient) across every English provider in May 2026, with 77% within the six-week standard, and 22,292 had already waited more than double that (13+ weeks). Provider median bands range from 0–1 to 13+ weeks across the qualifying English diagnostic providers. These provider bands and the national patient percentile describe different populations.
Source: NHS England monthly diagnostics (DM01), national all-provider total (May 2026), the England-wide figure the per-trust breakdown above is drawn from, not a further trust.
Among NHS England diagnostic tests
On the same DM01 return (May 2026), MRI ranks #5 of 15 by the share of patients waiting within six weeks (77%, national median 3–<4 weeks, 22,292 already past 13 weeks). Faster operational shares include DEXA scan (83.3%) and Non-obstetric ultrasound (79.5%). Slower shares include Barium enema (76%) and Echocardiography (72.3%). This ranks one published diagnostic series against the others on file; it is not a clinical priority order.
Source: NHS England monthly diagnostics (DM01) national totals, all 15 tests in May 2026, ranked by % within the six-week standard.
Six-week diagnostic waiting-times standard
NHS England's monthly diagnostics (DM01) return measures incomplete diagnostic pathways against a six-week operational standard. The national median on this page for mri scan is 3–<4 weeks; the 90th percentile is 10–<11 weeks (period DM01-MAY-2026).
Share of profiled-trust pathways within 6 weeks
Across the 11 trusts PlainNHS profiles (50,766 people still waiting in the DM01-MAY-2026 return), a waiting-list-weighted 77.6% of pathways were within 6 weeks. That is a roll-up of the per-trust shares in the chart above, not a second NHS England figure.
Patients waiting 13 weeks or longer
DM01 also reports how many incomplete mri scan pathways have already waited 13 weeks or more. Across profiled trusts that is 2,323 people in the DM01-MAY-2026 return.
Counts at profiled trusts
| NHS Trust | Waiting 13+ wks | Total waiting |
|---|---|---|
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 773 | 7,993 |
| Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 373 | 3,422 |
| Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust | 332 | 6,961 |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | 314 | 6,180 |
| Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 167 | 4,830 |
| The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 131 | 3,950 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 93 | 4,704 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 58 | 3,245 |
| Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust | 40 | 847 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | 33 | 4,314 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | 9 | 4,320 |
Related diagnostic pathways we track
National medians from the same NHS England family of returns. Each link opens that pathway's wait page.
- Colonoscopy - national median 3–<4 weeks
- CT Scan (Outpatient) - national median 2–<3 weeks
Choosing a diagnostic provider at referral
Diagnostic tests such as mri scan are booked through the NHS e-Referral Service (still often called Choose and Book). At the point of GP referral you can ask to see providers that offer this DM01 test. PlainNHS does not book appointments; it publishes the diagnostic waits from NHS England's monthly return so you can compare listed trusts before the referral is locked in.
Read with this pathway
- Compare two trusts - Side-by-side DM01 waits for mri scan
- Choose and Book guide - How the diagnostic referral entitlement works
- Colonoscopy - National median 3–<4 weeks
- CT Scan - National median 2–<3 weeks
- NHS Trust index - CQC ratings alongside wait figures
- RTT key findings - National diagnostic vs elective standard gaps
Monthly DM01 release cadence
The figures on this page refresh when PlainNHS ingests the next NHS England DM01 diagnostics release. The data vintage in the hero and the period labels on the charts are the ones currently on file (DM01-MAY-2026).
Where to see what moved
- /changes - month-on-month movements across profiled trusts
- All procedures - diagnostic and elective pathways we track
- Procedure wait variation research - how spreads differ across pathways
- Open datasets - downloadable tables matching the DB
What to do with this pathway
Use the published waits for MRI Scan before you contact your GP or the trust's PALS.
- National median wait is 3–<4 weeks (90th percentile 10–<11 weeks on the May 2026 return). Browse procedures
- Put two trusts on the same monthly RTT or DM01 return side by side. Compare trusts
- Read how the six-week diagnostic standard is defined in NHS England’s DM01 release. All procedures
Statistical waiting times only, not medical advice or a prediction for your case.
Source: NHS England Diagnostics waiting times and activity (DM01) · DM01-MAY-2026
Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
PlainNHS procedure pages are rendered directly from NHS England RTT and diagnostic (DM01) releases, no number is typed in by an editor. Median and provider waits for MRI Scan (Outpatient) come from the live specialty or diagnostic return on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of DM01-MAY-2026. Figures here are for context and comparison; clinical pathway decisions belong with your GP, NHS 111, or the treating Trust.