Ultrasound – East Kent Hospitals University NOT LIVE
1 in 3 (32.2%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (11,064 waiting).
Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
Ultrasound waiting times in Ashford
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Ashford, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Ashford: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest East Kent Hospitals University hospital: One Ashford Hospital (TN24 0YS), about 2 miles from central Ashford.
- Usually referred to: patients in Ashford are usually referred to East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
- Nearest community diagnostic centre doing ultrasounds: Buckland Community Hospital CDC (CT17 0HD), about 18 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Kent and Medway ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, about 17 miles away, where 79.8% of its ultrasound list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of Aug 2026.
What is an ultrasound?
Non-obstetric ultrasound uses sound waves to look at organs such as the liver, kidneys, thyroid and pelvis. Pregnancy scans are not included in these figures.
Ultrasound waiting list at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
32.2%waiting under 6 weeks
11,064people on the ultrasound waiting list
7,506waiting 6 weeks or more
3,904waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 11,064 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. 32.2% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 46.1 points below the England figure of 78.3% and 47.0 points below the South East figure of 79.2%. 3,904 people (35.3%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
East Kent Hospitals University: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 32.2% | 11,064 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 37.0% | 11,187 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 44.5% | 10,972 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 42.3% | 10,098 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 39.8% | 9,896 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 46.1% | 9,945 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 48.0% | 9,274 | 83.6% |
How Ashford compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 32.2% | 11,064 | 3,904 |
| South East region | 79.2% | 129,151 | 8,460 |
| England | 78.3% | 648,630 | 30,620 |
Nearby hospital trusts for non-obstetric ultrasounds
Trusts serving neighbouring towns, ordered by the share of their list waiting under 6 weeks. In England you can usually ask your GP which hospitals you could be referred to; waiting lists change from month to month.
| Trust | Distance (town) | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 45 miles | 100.0% | 4,817 | 0 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 24 miles | 99.2% | 1,711 | 0 |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 49 miles | 97.9% | 3,903 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 42 miles | 91.3% | 7,115 | 10 |
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | about 35 miles | 88.1% | 8,880 | 3 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 50 miles | 84.4% | 4,160 | 80 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 79.8% | 5,547 | 0 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 50 miles | 73.5% | 7,008 | 32 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 46 miles | 72.4% | 4,131 | 207 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 44 miles | 61.2% | 12,569 | 519 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | 13 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 32.2% | 11,064 |
| Maidstone | 17 miles | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 79.8% | 5,547 |
| Hastings | 24 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 99.2% | 1,711 |
| Dartford | 35 miles | Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 88.1% | 8,880 |
| Eastbourne | 37 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 99.2% | 1,711 |
| Lewes | 42 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 91.3% | 7,115 |
| Greenwich | 44 miles | Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 61.2% | 12,569 |
| Croydon | 45 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 100.0% | 4,817 |
More for Ashford: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Ashford · MRI scan waiting times in Ashford · CT scan waiting times in Ashford · Endoscopy waiting times in Ashford. National picture: Ultrasound waiting times in England.
Understanding the 6-week figure
NHS England counts everyone on the waiting list for a test at the end of each month and how many weeks they have waited since referral. The standard is that fewer than 1% of patients wait 6 weeks or more. Urgent referrals, including suspected cancer, are usually prioritised, so routine waits can be longer than the average suggests. If your wait is much longer than you were told, contact the hospital’s booking team or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an ultrasound in Ashford?
At the end of August 2026, 32.2% of the 11,064 people waiting for an ultrasound at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 3,904 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Ashford getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust was 48.0% in February 2026 and 32.2% in August 2026, down 15.8 points.
Can I have my ultrasound somewhere else?
In England you can usually discuss with your GP or the referring clinician which hospitals or community diagnostic centres you could be referred to. Waiting times at nearby trusts are listed on this page as a starting point. The nearest community diagnostic centre recording ultrasounds in NHS England’s Aug 2026 data is Buckland Community Hospital CDC, about 18 miles from Ashford.
How often are these figures updated?
NHS England publishes A&E, diagnostics (DM01) and referral to treatment (RTT) statistics every month, usually on the second Thursday. A&E figures cover the previous month; diagnostics and RTT figures are a month further behind. This site refreshes when new files are published.