MRI scan – Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NOT LIVE
3 in 4 (73.9%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,579 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 Crawley
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trusts serving Crawley, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Crawley: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Surrey and Sussex Healthcare hospital: Crawley Hospital (RH11 7DH), under a mile from central Crawley.
- Usually referred to: patients in Crawley are usually referred to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust or University Hospitals Sussex 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: Crawley Collaborative CDC (RH11 7DH), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, about 16 miles away, where 99.1% 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 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
73.9%waiting under 6 weeks
2,579people on the MRI waiting list
674waiting 6 weeks or more
2waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,579 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. 73.9% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 4.1 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 3.5 points below the South East figure of 77.4%. 2 people (0.1%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 73.9% | 2,579 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 72.5% | 2,971 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 76.0% | 2,620 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 74.7% | 2,691 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 75.0% | 2,878 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 78.5% | 2,849 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 94.0% | 2,555 | 80.0% |
MRI scan waiting list at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
92.5%waiting under 6 weeks
2,755people on the MRI waiting list
208waiting 6 weeks or more
56waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,755 people were waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. 92.5% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 14.5 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 15.1 points above the South East figure of 77.4%. 56 people (2.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
University Hospitals Sussex: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 92.5% | 2,755 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 94.4% | 3,203 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 93.6% | 3,143 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 92.8% | 2,926 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 92.6% | 3,105 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 96.5% | 3,053 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 92.7% | 2,830 | 80.0% |
How Crawley compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 73.9% | 2,579 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| South East region | 77.4% | 54,655 | 2,547 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | about 29 miles | 100.0% | 846 | 0 |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 99.8% | 859 | 1 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 18 miles | 99.2% | 1,984 | 1 |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 22 miles | 99.2% | 1,029 | 0 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 16 miles | 99.1% | 1,602 | 2 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 27 miles | 96.9% | 1,482 | 24 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 19 miles | 93.6% | 2,030 | 16 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | about 30 miles | 84.4% | 5,227 | 23 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 27 miles | 82.3% | 4,902 | 31 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 27 miles | 82.0% | 2,711 | 7 |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 30 miles | 72.2% | 6,544 | 312 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epsom | 16 miles | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | 99.1% | 1,602 |
| Croydon | 18 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 99.2% | 1,984 |
| Lewes | 19 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
| Guildford | 19 miles | Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 99.8% | 859 |
| Brighton | 20 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
| Woking | 22 miles | Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.2% | 1,029 |
| Worthing | 22 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
| Greenwich | 27 miles | Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 96.9% | 1,482 |
More for Crawley: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Crawley · CT scan waiting times in Crawley · Ultrasound waiting times in Crawley · Endoscopy waiting times in Crawley. 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 Crawley?
At the end of August 2026, 73.9% of the 2,579 people waiting for an MRI scan at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 2 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Crawley getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was 94.0% in February 2026 and 73.9% in August 2026, down 20.1 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 Crawley Collaborative CDC, under a mile from Crawley.
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.