Ultrasound – NHS Highland NOT LIVE
Nearly all (98.8%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited 6 weeks or less (1,121 waiting).
Official monthly figure for Jun 2026 · Public Health Scotland
Scotland diagnostics data for June 2026, published 25 August 2026
Ultrasound waiting times in Inverness
Waiting times for non-obstetric ultrasounds at NHS Highland, which serves Inverness, Scotland.
These are Scotland figures, not NHS England data. Health services in Scotland are run separately and publish their own statistics, which use different definitions. Figures here come from Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot).
Inverness: local hospitals and referrals
- Local NHS organisation: Inverness is served by NHS Highland, which runs its hospitals and decides where patients are referred.
- Nearest emergency departments: Raigmore Hospital (NHS Highland), about 1 mile away; Dr Gray's Hospital (NHS Grampian), about 35 miles away.
- Where to check your own referral: your GP or the hospital booking team at NHS Highland can tell you where you would be seen and your expected wait.
- Official source: Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot).
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 NHS Highland
At the end of the month (June 2026), 1,121 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at NHS Highland, of whom 13 (1.2%) had waited more than 6 weeks. Across Scotland the figure was 26.9%; a lower percentage is better. Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland.
NHS Highland: % waiting over 6 weeks for ultrasound Scotland
| Month | NHS Highland % over 6 weeks | Scotland % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 1.2% | 26.9% |
| May 2026 | 5.0% | 25.8% |
| April 2026 | 17.0% | 26.0% |
| March 2026 | 15.9% | 20.9% |
| February 2026 | 19.4% | 24.1% |
| January 2026 | 19.6% | 37.2% |
| Health board | % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|
| NHS Fife | 0.1% |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 0.8% |
| NHS Highland | 1.2% |
| Golden Jubilee National Hospital | 2.7% |
| NHS Borders | 3.6% |
| NHS Orkney | 5.3% |
| NHS Lothian | 8.4% |
| NHS Western Isles | 12.1% |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 15.7% |
| NHS Forth Valley | 16.1% |
| NHS Grampian | 22.5% |
| NHS Tayside | 34.1% |
| NHS Shetland | 38.9% |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 39.8% |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 40.0% |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound waiting over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 83 miles | NHS Grampian | 22.5% | 3,258 |
| Dunfermline | 102 miles | NHS Fife | 0.1% | 1,358 |
| Kirkcaldy | 103 miles | NHS Fife | 0.1% | 1,358 |
| Glasgow | 112 miles | NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 39.8% | 10,587 |
| Edinburgh | 113 miles | NHS Lothian | 8.4% | 3,944 |
| Hamilton | 118 miles | NHS Lanarkshire | 40.0% | 5,884 |
| East Kilbride | 119 miles | NHS Lanarkshire | 40.0% | 5,884 |
More for Inverness: all waiting times · MRI scan waiting times in Inverness · CT scan waiting times in Inverness · Endoscopy waiting times in Inverness. England comparison: Ultrasound waiting times in England.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an ultrasound in Inverness?
1.2% of the 1,121 people waiting for an ultrasound at NHS Highland had waited more than 6 weeks (June 2026), compared with 26.9% across Scotland.
Why is this not the same measure as England?
Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland. England reports the share waiting under 6 weeks from NHS England’s DM01 return.
Where do these figures come from?
From Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot), published under the Open Government Licence.