Ultrasound – University Hospitals Birmingham NOT LIVE
3 in 5 (57.5%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (16,455 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 Birmingham
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound 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 ultrasounds: 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 65.1% 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 University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
57.5%waiting under 6 weeks
16,455people on the ultrasound waiting list
7,000waiting 6 weeks or more
1,265waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 16,455 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. 57.5% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 20.8 points below the England figure of 78.3% and 13.2 points below the Midlands figure of 70.7%. 1,265 people (7.7%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
University Hospitals Birmingham: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57.5% | 16,455 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 60.5% | 17,226 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 56.9% | 17,388 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 57.1% | 16,567 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 56.2% | 16,681 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 62.0% | 16,129 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 67.0% | 15,497 | 83.6% |
Ultrasound waiting list at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
86.5%waiting under 6 weeks
5,233people on the ultrasound waiting list
704waiting 6 weeks or more
147waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 5,233 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. 86.5% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 8.2 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 15.8 points above the Midlands figure of 70.7%. 147 people (2.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 86.5% | 5,233 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 92.0% | 5,869 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 93.6% | 5,873 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 95.5% | 6,083 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 89.3% | 6,958 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 94.7% | 7,079 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 99.5% | 6,082 | 83.6% |
How Birmingham compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 57.5% | 16,455 | 1,265 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | 86.5% | 5,233 | 147 |
| Midlands region | 70.7% | 122,276 | 8,884 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | about 12 miles | 99.9% | 3,021 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 99.6% | 3,842 | 1 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | about 34 miles | 97.6% | 5,372 | 8 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 54 miles | 97.1% | 2,664 | 1 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 18 miles | 94.7% | 1,061 | 4 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 92.0% | 3,035 | 35 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 37 miles | 91.7% | 5,380 | 2 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 35 miles | 77.0% | 7,223 | 48 |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | about 8 miles | 65.1% | 3,954 | 0 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 45 miles | 48.4% | 6,439 | 945 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 8 miles | The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | 65.1% | 3,954 |
| Wolverhampton | 12 miles | The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | 99.9% | 3,021 |
| Coventry | 17 miles | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 99.6% | 3,842 |
| Nuneaton | 18 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 94.7% | 1,061 |
| Warwick | 19 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 92.0% | 3,035 |
| Leamington Spa | 20 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 92.0% | 3,035 |
| Leicester | 34 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 97.6% | 5,372 |
| Derby | 35 miles | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | 77.0% | 7,223 |
More for Birmingham: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Birmingham · MRI scan waiting times in Birmingham · CT scan waiting times in Birmingham · Endoscopy waiting times in Birmingham. 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 Birmingham?
At the end of August 2026, 57.5% of the 16,455 people waiting for an ultrasound at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 1,265 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Birmingham getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust was 67.0% in February 2026 and 57.5% in August 2026, down 9.5 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 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.