MRI scan – University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NOT LIVE
5 in 10 (46.9%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (6,883 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 Derby
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Derby, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Derby: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest University Hospitals of Derby and Burton hospital: Royal Derby Hospital (DE22 3NE), about 2 miles from central Derby.
- Usually referred to: patients in Derby are usually referred to University Hospitals of Derby and Burton 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: Florence Nightingale Community Hospital CDC (DE1 2QY), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, about 14 miles away, where 58.4% 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 of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
46.9%waiting under 6 weeks
6,883people on the MRI waiting list
3,657waiting 6 weeks or more
903waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 6,883 people were waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. 46.9% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 31.1 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 24.0 points below the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 903 people (13.1%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 46.9% | 6,883 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 52.8% | 7,179 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 56.4% | 6,812 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 59.0% | 7,874 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 58.3% | 8,472 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 61.6% | 7,982 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 64.9% | 7,826 | 80.0% |
How Derby compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | 46.9% | 6,883 | 903 |
| 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 35 miles | 99.1% | 3,369 | 0 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 95.1% | 2,030 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 28 miles | 92.6% | 4,802 | 193 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 28 miles | 92.1% | 1,384 | 2 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | about 15 miles | 90.2% | 6,257 | 150 |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | about 35 miles | 80.3% | 7,111 | 258 |
| Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 miles | 79.3% | 3,718 | 127 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 22 miles | 67.1% | 2,098 | 25 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 14 miles | 58.4% | 5,415 | 477 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | about 35 miles | 52.4% | 8,354 | 630 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham | 14 miles | Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | 58.4% | 5,415 |
| Loughborough | 15 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
| Mansfield | 19 miles | Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 95.1% | 2,030 |
| Chesterfield | 22 miles | Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% | 2,098 |
| Leicester | 24 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
| Nuneaton | 28 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 92.1% | 1,384 |
| Sheffield | 32 miles | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.3% | 3,718 |
| Birmingham | 35 miles | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 80.3% | 7,111 |
More for Derby: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Derby · CT scan waiting times in Derby · Ultrasound waiting times in Derby · Endoscopy waiting times in Derby. 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 Derby?
At the end of August 2026, 46.9% of the 6,883 people waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 903 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Derby getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust was 64.9% in February 2026 and 46.9% in August 2026, down 18.0 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 Florence Nightingale Community Hospital CDC, under a mile from Derby.
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.