Ultrasound – Dartford and Gravesham NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (88.1%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (8,880 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 Dartford
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Dartford, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Dartford: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Dartford and Gravesham hospital: Physio Livingstone Community Hospital (DA1 1SA), under a mile from central Dartford.
- Usually referred to: patients in Dartford are usually referred to Dartford and Gravesham 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: North Kent CDC (DA1 1SA), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Kent and Medway ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, about 9 miles away, where 61.2% 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 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
88.1%waiting under 6 weeks
8,880people on the ultrasound waiting list
1,055waiting 6 weeks or more
3waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 8,880 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. 88.1% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 9.8 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 8.9 points above the South East figure of 79.2%. 3 people (0.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
Dartford and Gravesham: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 88.1% | 8,880 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 89.1% | 8,716 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 88.2% | 8,781 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 87.3% | 8,469 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 89.7% | 7,527 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 93.9% | 7,829 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 99.4% | 7,421 | 83.6% |
How Dartford compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 88.1% | 8,880 | 3 |
| South East region | 79.2% | 129,151 | 8,460 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 15 miles | 100.0% | 4,817 | 0 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 23 miles | 99.2% | 7,081 | 2 |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 14 miles | 97.9% | 3,903 | 0 |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 17 miles | 95.0% | 1,863 | 10 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 29 miles | 91.3% | 7,115 | 10 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 16 miles | 84.4% | 4,160 | 80 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | about 17 miles | 82.1% | 12,588 | 50 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | about 18 miles | 79.8% | 5,547 | 0 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 16 miles | 73.5% | 7,008 | 32 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 29 miles | 72.4% | 4,131 | 207 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 9 miles | 61.2% | 12,569 | 519 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 9 miles | Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 61.2% | 12,569 |
| Hackney | 14 miles | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 97.9% | 3,903 |
| Croydon | 15 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 100.0% | 4,817 |
| Westminster | 16 miles | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | 84.4% | 4,160 |
| Camden | 17 miles | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | 82.1% | 12,588 |
| Maidstone | 18 miles | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 79.8% | 5,547 |
| Epsom | 23 miles | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | 99.2% | 7,081 |
| Crawley | 29 miles | Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 72.4% | 4,131 |
More for Dartford: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Dartford · MRI scan waiting times in Dartford · CT scan waiting times in Dartford · Endoscopy waiting times in Dartford. 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 Dartford?
At the end of August 2026, 88.1% of the 8,880 people waiting for an ultrasound at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 3 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Dartford getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust was 99.4% in February 2026 and 88.1% in August 2026, down 11.3 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 North Kent CDC, under a mile from Dartford.
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.