MRI scan – East Lancashire Hospitals NOT LIVE
Nearly all (100.0%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,134 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 Burnley
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Burnley, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Burnley: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest East Lancashire Hospitals hospital: Burnley General Hospital (BB10 2PQ), about 1 mile from central Burnley.
- Usually referred to: patients in Burnley are usually referred to East Lancashire 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: Rossendale CDC (BB4 7PL), about 6 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, about 16 miles away, where 98.6% 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 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
100.0%waiting under 6 weeks
2,134people on the MRI waiting list
0waiting 6 weeks or more
0waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,134 people were waiting for an MRI scan at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. 100.0% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 22.0 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 9.9 points above the North West figure of 90.1%. 0 people (0.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
East Lancashire Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 100.0% | 2,134 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 99.6% | 2,308 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 95.9% | 2,240 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 98.4% | 2,231 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 83.0% | 2,477 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 92.3% | 1,960 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 100.0% | 2,399 | 80.0% |
How Burnley compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | 100.0% | 2,134 | 0 |
| North West region | 90.1% | 43,852 | 543 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 20 miles | 99.5% | 665 | 2 |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | about 26 miles | 99.4% | 788 | 0 |
| Bolton NHS Foundation Trust | about 16 miles | 98.6% | 792 | 1 |
| Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 96.4% | 1,326 | 0 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | about 28 miles | 90.8% | 3,954 | 65 |
| Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 90.7% | 7,627 | 8 |
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | about 31 miles | 87.4% | 2,034 | 80 |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 86.8% | 7,589 | 153 |
| Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | about 31 miles | 86.2% | 2,904 | 27 |
| Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 miles | 75.4% | 297 | 9 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn | 10 miles | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | 100.0% | 2,134 |
| Bolton | 16 miles | Bolton NHS Foundation Trust | 98.6% | 792 |
| Preston | 19 miles | Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 96.4% | 1,326 |
| Bradford | 20 miles | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.5% | 665 |
| Salford | 21 miles | Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust | 90.7% | 7,627 |
| Manchester | 21 miles | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | 86.8% | 7,589 |
| Stockport | 26 miles | Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | 99.4% | 788 |
| Leeds | 28 miles | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 90.8% | 3,954 |
More for Burnley: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Burnley · CT scan waiting times in Burnley · Ultrasound waiting times in Burnley · Endoscopy waiting times in Burnley. 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 Burnley?
At the end of August 2026, 100.0% of the 2,134 people waiting for an MRI scan at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 0 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Burnley getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was 100.0% in February 2026 and 100.0% in August 2026, unchanged.
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 Rossendale CDC, about 6 miles from Burnley.
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.