Ultrasound – University Hospitals Dorset NOT LIVE
Nearly all (99.1%)
people on the ultrasound waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,572 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 Poole
How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Poole, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Poole: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest University Hospitals Dorset hospital: Poole Hospital (BH15 2JB), under a mile from central Poole.
- Usually referred to: patients in Poole are usually referred to University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
- Nearest community diagnostic centre doing ultrasounds: Shaftesbury House CDC (BH15 2BH), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Dorset ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, about 20 miles away, where 99.1% 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 Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
99.1%waiting under 6 weeks
2,572people on the ultrasound waiting list
22waiting 6 weeks or more
3waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,572 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. 99.1% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 20.8 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 11.5 points above the South West figure of 87.6%. 3 people (0.1%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the ultrasound list had waited
University Hospitals Dorset: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99.1% | 2,572 | 78.3% |
| July 2026 | 99.2% | 2,500 | 80.4% |
| June 2026 | 98.9% | 1,956 | 80.1% |
| May 2026 | 100.0% | 2,319 | 79.5% |
| April 2026 | 98.7% | 2,445 | 78.1% |
| March 2026 | 99.7% | 2,368 | 82.3% |
| February 2026 | 99.7% | 2,717 | 83.6% |
How Poole compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 2,572 | 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 20 miles | 99.1% | 1,321 | 2 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | about 67 miles | 98.8% | 2,654 | 27 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 71 miles | 91.3% | 7,115 | 10 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 37 miles | 91.1% | 4,256 | 0 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 29 miles | 89.4% | 3,329 | 11 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 39 miles | 88.7% | 3,789 | 12 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | about 48 miles | 86.0% | 3,261 | 94 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 miles | 84.8% | 4,396 | 43 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 67 miles | 74.4% | 4,570 | 76 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | about 70 miles | 71.9% | 2,330 | 107 |
Ultrasound waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | Ultrasound under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth | 4 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 2,572 |
| Dorchester | 20 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 1,321 |
| Weymouth | 22 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 99.1% | 1,321 |
| Southampton | 29 miles | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 89.4% | 3,329 |
| Yeovil | 32 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 84.8% | 4,396 |
| Winchester | 37 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 4,256 |
| Portsmouth | 39 miles | Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | 88.7% | 3,789 |
| Bath | 48 miles | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 3,261 |
More for Poole: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Poole · MRI scan waiting times in Poole · CT scan waiting times in Poole · Endoscopy waiting times in Poole. 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 Poole?
At the end of August 2026, 99.1% of the 2,572 people waiting for an ultrasound at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation 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 Poole getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust was 99.7% in February 2026 and 99.1% in August 2026, down 0.6 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 Shaftesbury House CDC, under a mile from Poole.
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.