MRI scan – Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NOT LIVE
Nearly all (99.0%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,526 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 Maidstone
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Maidstone, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Maidstone: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospital: The Maidstone Hospital (ME16 9QQ), about 2 miles from central Maidstone.
- Usually referred to: patients in Maidstone are usually referred to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells 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: West Kent CDC (ME16 9QQ), about 2 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Kent and Medway ICB.
- A nearby alternative: East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, about 17 miles away, where 51.7% 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 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
99.0%waiting under 6 weeks
1,526people on the MRI waiting list
15waiting 6 weeks or more
0waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,526 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. 99.0% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 21.0 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 21.6 points above the South East figure of 77.4%. 0 people (0.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99.0% | 1,526 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 99.1% | 1,738 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 99.7% | 1,523 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 99.2% | 1,602 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 98.9% | 1,419 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 99.4% | 1,310 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 98.9% | 1,084 | 80.0% |
How Maidstone compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust | 99.0% | 1,526 | 0 |
| 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 18 miles | 100.0% | 846 | 0 |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 miles | 100.0% | 1,322 | 0 |
| Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | about 28 miles | 99.2% | 1,984 | 1 |
| Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | about 26 miles | 96.9% | 1,482 | 24 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 29 miles | 93.6% | 2,030 | 16 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 33 miles | 82.3% | 4,902 | 31 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 82.0% | 2,711 | 7 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 33 miles | 73.9% | 2,579 | 2 |
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | about 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford | 17 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 51.7% | 12,727 |
| Dartford | 18 miles | Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 100.0% | 846 |
| Canterbury | 24 miles | East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | 51.7% | 12,727 |
| Greenwich | 26 miles | Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 96.9% | 1,482 |
| Croydon | 28 miles | Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 99.2% | 1,984 |
| Hastings | 29 miles | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | 93.6% | 2,030 |
| Hackney | 32 miles | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 100.0% | 1,322 |
| Westminster | 33 miles | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | 82.3% | 4,902 |
More for Maidstone: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Maidstone · CT scan waiting times in Maidstone · Ultrasound waiting times in Maidstone · Endoscopy waiting times in Maidstone. 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 Maidstone?
At the end of August 2026, 99.0% of the 1,526 people waiting for an MRI scan at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 0 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Maidstone getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust was 98.9% in February 2026 and 99.0% in August 2026, up 0.1 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 West Kent CDC, about 2 miles from Maidstone.
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.