MRI scan – Royal United Hospitals Bath NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (94.6%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,183 waiting).
Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
MRI scan waiting times in Bath
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Bath, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Bath: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Royal United Hospitals Bath hospital: Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (BA1 3NG), about 2 miles from central Bath.
- Usually referred to: patients in Bath are usually referred to Royal United Hospitals Bath 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 MRI scans: BSW Banes Locality CDC (BA2 8SQ), about 5 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, about 33 miles away, where 86.0% of its MRI scan list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of Aug 2026.
What is an MRI scan?
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses strong magnets and radio waves to make detailed pictures of organs, joints, the brain and spine. It does not use X-rays.
MRI scan waiting list at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
94.6%waiting under 6 weeks
1,183people on the MRI waiting list
64waiting 6 weeks or more
5waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,183 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. 94.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 16.6 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 10.5 points above the South West figure of 84.1%. 5 people (0.4%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Royal United Hospitals Bath: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 94.6% | 1,183 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 95.4% | 1,357 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 95.3% | 1,337 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 96.8% | 1,372 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 97.4% | 1,339 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 97.2% | 1,342 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 96.5% | 1,571 | 80.0% |
How Bath compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | 94.6% | 1,183 | 5 |
| South West region | 84.1% | 27,999 | 1,025 |
| England | 78.0% | 357,356 | 16,345 |
Nearby hospital trusts for MRI scans
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 48 miles | 97.7% | 2,736 | 24 |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 46 miles | 97.4% | 609 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 71 miles | 92.6% | 4,802 | 193 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 51 miles | 91.1% | 1,879 | 22 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | about 60 miles | 89.1% | 2,492 | 46 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 54 miles | 88.1% | 4,345 | 75 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 53 miles | 86.3% | 1,581 | 34 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 86.0% | 2,004 | 39 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | about 71 miles | 80.6% | 2,176 | 0 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 59 miles | 57.8% | 4,597 | 668 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 68 miles | 41.0% | 2,737 | 993 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeovil | 33 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Bridgwater | 33 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Taunton | 41 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Dorchester | 46 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 97.4% | 609 |
| Poole | 48 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Bournemouth | 50 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Winchester | 51 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 1,879 |
| Southampton | 53 miles | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 86.3% | 1,581 |
More for Bath: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Bath · CT scan waiting times in Bath · Ultrasound waiting times in Bath · Endoscopy waiting times in Bath. National picture: MRI scan 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 MRI scan in Bath?
At the end of August 2026, 94.6% of the 1,183 people waiting for an MRI scan at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 5 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Bath getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust was 96.5% in February 2026 and 94.6% in August 2026, down 1.9 points.
Can I have my MRI scan 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 MRI scans in NHS England’s Aug 2026 data is BSW Banes Locality CDC, about 5 miles from Bath.
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.