Ultrasound – University Hospitals of Leicester NOT LIVE
Nearly all (97.6%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (5,372 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 Leicester
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Leicester, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Leicester: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest University Hospitals of Leicester hospital: Leicester Royal Infirmary (LE1 5WW), under a mile from central Leicester.
- Usually referred to: patients in Leicester are usually referred to University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
- Nearest community diagnostic centre doing ultrasounds: Leicester CDC (LE5 4PW), about 2 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB.
- A nearby alternative: George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, about 17 miles away, where 94.7% 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 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
97.6%waiting under 6 weeks
5,372people on the ultrasound waiting list
127waiting 6 weeks or more
8waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 5,372 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. 97.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 19.3 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 26.9 points above the Midlands figure of 70.7%. 8 people (0.1%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
University Hospitals of Leicester: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 97.6% | 5,372 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 99.5% | 5,105 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 97.1% | 5,363 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 95.6% | 5,706 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 94.3% | 6,201 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 95.4% | 6,390 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 89.1% | 6,174 | 83.6% |
How Leicester compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 97.6% | 5,372 | 8 |
| Midlands region | 70.7% | 122,276 | 8,884 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 99.6% | 3,842 | 1 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 35 miles | 97.1% | 2,664 | 1 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 94.7% | 1,061 | 4 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | about 30 miles | 92.0% | 3,035 | 35 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 41 miles | 91.7% | 5,380 | 2 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | about 34 miles | 86.5% | 5,233 | 147 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 24 miles | 77.0% | 7,223 | 48 |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | about 41 miles | 65.1% | 3,954 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | about 34 miles | 57.5% | 16,455 | 1,265 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 21 miles | 48.4% | 6,439 | 945 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loughborough | 10 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 97.6% | 5,372 |
| Nuneaton | 17 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 94.7% | 1,061 |
| Nottingham | 21 miles | Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | 48.4% | 6,439 |
| Coventry | 23 miles | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 99.6% | 3,842 |
| Derby | 24 miles | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | 77.0% | 7,223 |
| Leamington Spa | 30 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 92.0% | 3,035 |
| Warwick | 31 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 92.0% | 3,035 |
| Birmingham | 34 miles | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 57.5% | 16,455 |
More for Leicester: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Leicester · MRI scan waiting times in Leicester · CT scan waiting times in Leicester · Endoscopy waiting times in Leicester. 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 Leicester?
At the end of August 2026, 97.6% of the 5,372 people waiting for an ultrasound at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 8 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Leicester getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust was 89.1% in February 2026 and 97.6% in August 2026, up 8.5 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 Leicester CDC, about 2 miles from Leicester.
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.