MRI scan – Royal Surrey NOT LIVE
Nearly all (99.8%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (859 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 Guildford
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Guildford, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Guildford: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Royal Surrey hospital: Mount Alvernia Hospital (GU1 3LX), under a mile from central Guildford.
- Usually referred to: patients in Guildford are usually referred to Royal Surrey 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: Woking Community Hospital CDC (GU22 7HS), about 5 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, about 6 miles away, where 99.2% 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 Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
99.8%waiting under 6 weeks
859people on the MRI waiting list
2waiting 6 weeks or more
1waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 859 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. 99.8% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 21.8 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 22.4 points above the South East figure of 77.4%. 1 people (0.1%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Royal Surrey: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99.8% | 859 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 100.0% | 1,006 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 99.5% | 1,020 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 99.7% | 922 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 99.9% | 1,044 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 99.9% | 959 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 100.0% | 885 | 80.0% |
How Guildford compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 99.8% | 859 | 1 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 6 miles | 99.2% | 1,029 | 0 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 22 miles | 99.2% | 1,984 | 1 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 14 miles | 99.1% | 1,602 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 23 miles | 91.1% | 1,879 | 22 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | about 20 miles | 89.1% | 2,492 | 46 |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 83.7% | 1,599 | 115 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 26 miles | 82.3% | 4,902 | 31 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 26 miles | 82.0% | 2,711 | 7 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 19 miles | 73.9% | 2,579 | 2 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woking | 6 miles | Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.2% | 1,029 |
| Epsom | 14 miles | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | 99.1% | 1,602 |
| Slough | 19 miles | Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 83.7% | 1,599 |
| Crawley | 19 miles | Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 73.9% | 2,579 |
| Maidenhead | 20 miles | Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 83.7% | 1,599 |
| Croydon | 22 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 99.2% | 1,984 |
| Reading | 23 miles | Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | 89.1% | 2,492 |
| Basingstoke | 23 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 1,879 |
More for Guildford: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Guildford · CT scan waiting times in Guildford · Ultrasound waiting times in Guildford · Endoscopy waiting times in Guildford. 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 Guildford?
At the end of August 2026, 99.8% of the 859 people waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 1 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Guildford getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust was 100.0% in February 2026 and 99.8% in August 2026, down 0.2 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 Woking Community Hospital CDC, about 5 miles from Guildford.
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.