MRI scan – University Hospitals Birmingham NOT LIVE
4 in 5 (80.3%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (7,111 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 Birmingham
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trusts serving Birmingham, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Birmingham: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest University Hospitals Birmingham hospital: Birmingham City Hospital (B18 7QH), about 1 mile from central Birmingham.
- Usually referred to: patients in Birmingham are usually referred to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust or Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS 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: Washwood Heath CDC (B8 3SW), about 2 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB.
- A nearby alternative: The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, about 8 miles away, where 96.0% 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 University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
80.3%waiting under 6 weeks
7,111people on the MRI waiting list
1,400waiting 6 weeks or more
258waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 7,111 people were waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. 80.3% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 2.3 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 9.4 points above the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 258 people (3.6%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
University Hospitals Birmingham: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 80.3% | 7,111 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 80.0% | 8,156 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 81.7% | 8,191 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 76.7% | 7,677 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 71.9% | 8,328 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 71.1% | 8,541 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 70.9% | 8,754 | 80.0% |
MRI scan waiting list at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
52.4%waiting under 6 weeks
8,354people on the MRI waiting list
3,978waiting 6 weeks or more
630waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 8,354 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. 52.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 25.6 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 18.5 points below the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 630 people (7.5%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 52.4% | 8,354 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 56.9% | 8,780 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 56.3% | 8,561 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 55.9% | 8,439 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 55.8% | 8,809 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 58.9% | 8,943 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 58.3% | 8,721 | 80.0% |
How Birmingham compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 80.3% | 7,111 | 258 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | 52.4% | 8,354 | 630 |
| Midlands region | 70.9% | 82,432 | 5,198 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | about 12 miles | 99.1% | 3,369 | 0 |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | about 8 miles | 96.0% | 2,066 | 4 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 54 miles | 95.1% | 2,030 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 92.6% | 4,802 | 193 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 18 miles | 92.1% | 1,384 | 2 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | about 34 miles | 90.2% | 6,257 | 150 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 37 miles | 88.1% | 4,345 | 75 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 80.6% | 2,176 | 0 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 45 miles | 58.4% | 5,415 | 477 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 35 miles | 46.9% | 6,883 | 903 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 8 miles | The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | 96.0% | 2,066 |
| Wolverhampton | 12 miles | The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | 99.1% | 3,369 |
| Coventry | 17 miles | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 92.6% | 4,802 |
| Nuneaton | 18 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 92.1% | 1,384 |
| Warwick | 19 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 80.6% | 2,176 |
| Leamington Spa | 20 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 80.6% | 2,176 |
| Leicester | 34 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
| Derby | 35 miles | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | 46.9% | 6,883 |
More for Birmingham: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Birmingham · CT scan waiting times in Birmingham · Ultrasound waiting times in Birmingham · Endoscopy waiting times in Birmingham. 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 Birmingham?
At the end of August 2026, 80.3% of the 7,111 people waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 258 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Birmingham getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust was 70.9% in February 2026 and 80.3% in August 2026, up 9.4 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 Washwood Heath CDC, about 2 miles from Birmingham.
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.