MRI scan – Nottingham University Hospitals NOT LIVE
3 in 5 (58.4%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (5,415 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 Nottingham
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Nottingham, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Nottingham: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Nottingham University Hospitals hospital: Ilkeston Community Hospital (DE7 8LN), about 8 miles from central Nottingham.
- Usually referred to: patients in Nottingham are usually referred to Nottingham University Hospitals 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: Broad Marsh CDC (NG1 7DD), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, about 13 miles away, where 90.2% 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 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
58.4%waiting under 6 weeks
5,415people on the MRI waiting list
2,252waiting 6 weeks or more
477waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 5,415 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. 58.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 19.6 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 12.5 points below the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 477 people (8.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Nottingham University Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 58.4% | 5,415 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 62.5% | 6,499 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 58.5% | 6,581 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 53.7% | 6,609 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 51.2% | 7,346 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 53.7% | 7,504 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 54.4% | 7,435 | 80.0% |
How Nottingham compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | 58.4% | 5,415 | 477 |
| Midlands region | 70.9% | 82,432 | 5,198 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | about 34 miles | 95.7% | 726 | 0 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 13 miles | 95.1% | 2,030 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 33 miles | 92.6% | 4,802 | 193 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 33 miles | 92.1% | 1,384 | 2 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | about 13 miles | 90.2% | 6,257 | 150 |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | about 45 miles | 80.3% | 7,111 | 258 |
| Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 79.3% | 3,718 | 127 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 23 miles | 67.1% | 2,098 | 25 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | about 45 miles | 52.4% | 8,354 | 630 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 39 miles | 49.8% | 4,189 | 596 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 14 miles | 46.9% | 6,883 | 903 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loughborough | 13 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
| Mansfield | 13 miles | Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 95.1% | 2,030 |
| Derby | 14 miles | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | 46.9% | 6,883 |
| Leicester | 21 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
| Chesterfield | 23 miles | Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% | 2,098 |
| Sheffield | 33 miles | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.3% | 3,718 |
| Nuneaton | 33 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 92.1% | 1,384 |
| Rotherham | 34 miles | The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | 95.7% | 726 |
More for Nottingham: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Nottingham · CT scan waiting times in Nottingham · Ultrasound waiting times in Nottingham · Endoscopy waiting times in Nottingham. 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 Nottingham?
At the end of August 2026, 58.4% of the 5,415 people waiting for an MRI scan at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 477 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Nottingham getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was 54.4% in February 2026 and 58.4% in August 2026, up 4.0 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 Broad Marsh CDC, under a mile from Nottingham.
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.