Ultrasound – Royal Cornwall Hospitals NOT LIVE
Nearly all (98.6%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,961 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 Penzance
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Penzance, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Penzance: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Royal Cornwall Hospitals hospital: Bolitho Hospital (TR18 4NY), under a mile from central Penzance.
- Usually referred to: patients in Penzance are usually referred to Royal Cornwall 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 ultrasounds: West Cornwall CDC (TR18 2PF), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB.
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 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
98.6%waiting under 6 weeks
1,961people on the ultrasound waiting list
28waiting 6 weeks or more
3waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,961 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. 98.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 20.3 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 11.0 points above the South West figure of 87.6%. 3 people (0.2%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
Royal Cornwall Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 98.6% | 1,961 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 98.7% | 1,726 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 97.5% | 1,356 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 99.5% | 1,489 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 98.7% | 1,381 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 98.9% | 1,522 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 98.8% | 1,575 | 83.6% |
How Penzance compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 98.6% | 1,961 | 3 |
| South West region | 87.6% | 45,464 | 526 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 140 miles | 99.1% | 1,321 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 162 miles | 99.1% | 2,572 | 3 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 197 miles | 91.1% | 4,256 | 0 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 190 miles | 89.4% | 3,329 | 11 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 201 miles | 88.7% | 3,789 | 12 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | about 164 miles | 86.0% | 3,261 | 94 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 124 miles | 84.8% | 4,396 | 43 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | about 64 miles | 79.6% | 4,062 | 48 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 93 miles | 74.4% | 4,570 | 76 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | about 92 miles | 71.9% | 2,330 | 107 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falmouth | 21 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 98.6% | 1,961 |
| Truro | 24 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 98.6% | 1,961 |
| Newquay | 29 miles | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust | 98.6% | 1,961 |
| Plymouth | 64 miles | University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 79.6% | 4,062 |
| Torquay | 92 miles | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 71.9% | 2,330 |
| Barnstaple | 93 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 74.4% | 4,570 |
| Exeter | 98 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 74.4% | 4,570 |
| Tiverton | 105 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 74.4% | 4,570 |
More for Penzance: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Penzance · MRI scan waiting times in Penzance · CT scan waiting times in Penzance · Endoscopy waiting times in Penzance. 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 Penzance?
At the end of August 2026, 98.6% of the 1,961 people waiting for an ultrasound at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 3 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.
Are ultrasound waits in Penzance getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust was 98.8% in February 2026 and 98.6% in August 2026, down 0.2 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 West Cornwall CDC, under a mile from Penzance.
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.