MRI scan – East Sussex Healthcare NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (93.6%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,030 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 Hastings
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Hastings, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Hastings: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest East Sussex Healthcare hospital: Conquest Hospital (TN37 7RD), about 2 miles from central Hastings.
- Usually referred to: patients in Hastings are usually referred to East Sussex Healthcare 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: Bexhill CDC (TN39 3LJ), about 5 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB.
- A nearby alternative: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, about 24 miles away, where 92.5% 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 East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
93.6%waiting under 6 weeks
2,030people on the MRI waiting list
129waiting 6 weeks or more
16waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,030 people were waiting for an MRI scan at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. 93.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 15.6 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 16.2 points above the South East figure of 77.4%. 16 people (0.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
East Sussex Healthcare: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 93.6% | 2,030 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 93.5% | 2,714 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 85.9% | 3,349 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 82.2% | 3,219 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 77.3% | 3,483 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 74.9% | 3,620 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 78.1% | 3,711 | 80.0% |
How Hastings compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 93.6% | 2,030 | 16 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | about 44 miles | 100.0% | 846 | 0 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 46 miles | 99.2% | 1,984 | 1 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 49 miles | 99.1% | 1,602 | 2 |
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | about 29 miles | 99.0% | 1,526 | 0 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 50 miles | 96.9% | 1,482 | 24 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 24 miles | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 54 miles | 82.3% | 4,902 | 31 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 54 miles | 82.0% | 2,711 | 7 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 38 miles | 73.9% | 2,579 | 2 |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | about 24 miles | 51.7% | 12,727 | 863 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbourne | 14 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 93.6% | 2,030 |
| Lewes | 24 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
| Ashford | 24 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 51.7% | 12,727 |
| Maidstone | 29 miles | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 99.0% | 1,526 |
| Brighton | 31 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
| Canterbury | 37 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 51.7% | 12,727 |
| Crawley | 38 miles | Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 73.9% | 2,579 |
| Worthing | 41 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
More for Hastings: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Hastings · CT scan waiting times in Hastings · Ultrasound waiting times in Hastings · Endoscopy waiting times in Hastings. 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 Hastings?
At the end of August 2026, 93.6% of the 2,030 people waiting for an MRI scan at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 16 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Hastings getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was 78.1% in February 2026 and 93.6% in August 2026, up 15.5 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 Bexhill CDC, about 5 miles from Hastings.
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.