Ultrasound – Royal Devon University Healthcare NOT LIVE
3 in 4 (74.4%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (4,570 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 Exeter
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Exeter, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Exeter: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Royal Devon University Healthcare hospital: Heavitree Hospital (EX1 2ED), under a mile from central Exeter.
- Usually referred to: patients in Exeter are usually referred to Royal Devon University Healthcare 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 ultrasounds: Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC (EX2 7JG), about 3 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Devon ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, about 18 miles away, where 71.9% 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 Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
74.4%waiting under 6 weeks
4,570people on the ultrasound waiting list
1,171waiting 6 weeks or more
76waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 4,570 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 74.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 3.9 points below the England figure of 78.3% and 13.2 points below the South West figure of 87.6%. 76 people (1.7%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
Royal Devon University Healthcare: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 74.4% | 4,570 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 74.6% | 4,787 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 69.9% | 4,554 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 67.6% | 4,566 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 72.0% | 4,228 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 75.8% | 4,249 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 73.9% | 4,689 | 83.6% |
How Exeter compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 74.4% | 4,570 | 76 |
| South West region | 87.6% | 45,464 | 526 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 48 miles | 99.1% | 1,321 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 68 miles | 99.1% | 2,572 | 3 |
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | about 71 miles | 98.6% | 1,961 | 3 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 100 miles | 91.1% | 4,256 | 0 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 94 miles | 89.4% | 3,329 | 11 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 107 miles | 88.7% | 3,789 | 12 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | about 68 miles | 86.0% | 3,261 | 94 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 28 miles | 84.8% | 4,396 | 43 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | about 36 miles | 79.6% | 4,062 | 48 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | about 18 miles | 71.9% | 2,330 | 107 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiverton | 13 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 74.4% | 4,570 |
| Torquay | 18 miles | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 71.9% | 2,330 |
| Taunton | 28 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Barnstaple | 34 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 74.4% | 4,570 |
| Plymouth | 36 miles | University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 79.6% | 4,062 |
| Bridgwater | 37 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Yeovil | 42 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Dorchester | 48 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 1,321 |
More for Exeter: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Exeter · MRI scan waiting times in Exeter · CT scan waiting times in Exeter · Endoscopy waiting times in Exeter. 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 Exeter?
At the end of August 2026, 74.4% of the 4,570 people waiting for an ultrasound at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 76 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Exeter getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was 73.9% in February 2026 and 74.4% in August 2026, up 0.5 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 Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC, about 3 miles from Exeter.
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.