MRI scan – Royal Cornwall Hospitals NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (94.7%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,092 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 Falmouth
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Falmouth, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Falmouth: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Royal Cornwall Hospitals hospital: Falmouth Hospital (TR11 2JA), under a mile from central Falmouth.
- Usually referred to: patients in Falmouth are usually referred to Royal Cornwall 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: Camborne and Redruth CDC (TR15 1AN), about 9 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB.
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 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
94.7%waiting under 6 weeks
2,092people on the MRI waiting list
110waiting 6 weeks or more
17waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,092 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. 94.7% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 16.7 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 10.6 points above the South West figure of 84.1%. 17 people (0.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Royal Cornwall Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 94.7% | 2,092 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 93.3% | 2,370 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 94.6% | 2,739 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 95.9% | 2,602 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 96.3% | 2,679 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 96.6% | 2,871 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 95.8% | 3,131 | 80.0% |
How Falmouth compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 94.7% | 2,092 | 17 |
| South West region | 84.1% | 27,999 | 1,025 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 142 miles | 97.7% | 2,736 | 24 |
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 120 miles | 97.4% | 609 | 2 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | about 146 miles | 94.6% | 1,183 | 5 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 176 miles | 91.1% | 1,879 | 22 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 170 miles | 86.3% | 1,581 | 34 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 105 miles | 86.0% | 2,004 | 39 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | about 71 miles | 81.7% | 1,210 | 29 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | about 44 miles | 72.8% | 2,207 | 118 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 78 miles | 57.8% | 4,597 | 668 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 181 miles | 41.0% | 2,737 | 993 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truro | 8 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 94.7% | 2,092 |
| Newquay | 18 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 94.7% | 2,092 |
| Penzance | 21 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 94.7% | 2,092 |
| Plymouth | 44 miles | University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 72.8% | 2,207 |
| Torquay | 71 miles | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 81.7% | 1,210 |
| Barnstaple | 78 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 |
| Exeter | 78 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 |
| Tiverton | 87 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 |
More for Falmouth: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Falmouth · CT scan waiting times in Falmouth · Ultrasound waiting times in Falmouth · Endoscopy waiting times in Falmouth. 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 Falmouth?
At the end of August 2026, 94.7% of the 2,092 people waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 17 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Falmouth getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust was 95.8% in February 2026 and 94.7% in August 2026, down 1.1 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 Camborne and Redruth CDC, about 9 miles from Falmouth.
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.