Ultrasound – Royal United Hospitals Bath NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (86.0%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (3,261 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 Bath
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound 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 ultrasounds: 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 84.8% 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 Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
86.0%waiting under 6 weeks
3,261people on the ultrasound waiting list
458waiting 6 weeks or more
94waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 3,261 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. 86.0% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 7.7 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 1.6 points below the South West figure of 87.6%. 94 people (2.9%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
Royal United Hospitals Bath: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 86.0% | 3,261 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 87.5% | 3,352 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 89.3% | 3,529 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 88.7% | 3,327 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 88.2% | 3,337 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 86.0% | 3,371 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 81.5% | 3,317 | 83.6% |
How Bath compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 3,261 | 94 |
| South West region | 87.6% | 45,464 | 526 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 71 miles | 99.6% | 3,842 | 1 |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 46 miles | 99.1% | 1,321 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 48 miles | 99.1% | 2,572 | 3 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | about 60 miles | 98.8% | 2,654 | 27 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | about 71 miles | 92.0% | 3,035 | 35 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 54 miles | 91.7% | 5,380 | 2 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 51 miles | 91.1% | 4,256 | 0 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 53 miles | 89.4% | 3,329 | 11 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 68 miles | 88.7% | 3,789 | 12 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 84.8% | 4,396 | 43 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 59 miles | 74.4% | 4,570 | 76 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeovil | 33 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Bridgwater | 33 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Taunton | 41 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Dorchester | 46 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 1,321 |
| Poole | 48 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 2,572 |
| Bournemouth | 50 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 2,572 |
| Winchester | 51 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 4,256 |
| Southampton | 53 miles | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 89.4% | 3,329 |
More for Bath: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Bath · MRI scan waiting times in Bath · CT scan waiting times in Bath · Endoscopy waiting times in Bath. 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 Bath?
At the end of August 2026, 86.0% of the 3,261 people waiting for an ultrasound at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 94 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Bath getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust was 81.5% in February 2026 and 86.0% in August 2026, up 4.5 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 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.