MRI scan – Portsmouth Hospitals University NOT LIVE
2 in 5 (41.0%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,737 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 Portsmouth
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Portsmouth, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Portsmouth: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Portsmouth Hospitals University hospital: St Mary's Hospital (PO3 6AD), about 1 mile from central Portsmouth.
- Usually referred to: patients in Portsmouth are usually referred to Portsmouth Hospitals University 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: Portsmouth CDC (PO3 6AD), about 1 mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB.
- A nearby alternative: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, about 16 miles away, where 86.3% 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 Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
41.0%waiting under 6 weeks
2,737people on the MRI waiting list
1,614waiting 6 weeks or more
993waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,737 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. 41.0% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 37.0 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 36.4 points below the South East figure of 77.4%. 993 people (36.3%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Portsmouth Hospitals University: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 41.0% | 2,737 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 49.6% | 2,889 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 52.0% | 2,856 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 55.4% | 2,591 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 54.2% | 2,672 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 54.7% | 2,556 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 59.2% | 2,420 | 80.0% |
How Portsmouth compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | 41.0% | 2,737 | 993 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | about 38 miles | 99.8% | 859 | 1 |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 43 miles | 99.2% | 1,029 | 0 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 51 miles | 99.1% | 1,602 | 2 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 35 miles | 97.7% | 2,736 | 24 |
| East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 48 miles | 93.6% | 2,030 | 16 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 31 miles | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 20 miles | 91.1% | 1,879 | 22 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | about 45 miles | 89.1% | 2,492 | 46 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 16 miles | 86.3% | 1,581 | 34 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 45 miles | 73.9% | 2,579 | 2 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 16 miles | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 86.3% | 1,581 |
| Winchester | 20 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 1,879 |
| Worthing | 31 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
| Basingstoke | 32 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 1,879 |
| Bournemouth | 35 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Guildford | 38 miles | Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 99.8% | 859 |
| Poole | 39 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Brighton | 41 miles | University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | 92.5% | 2,755 |
More for Portsmouth: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Portsmouth · CT scan waiting times in Portsmouth · Ultrasound waiting times in Portsmouth · Endoscopy waiting times in Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth?
At the end of August 2026, 41.0% of the 2,737 people waiting for an MRI scan at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 993 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Portsmouth getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust was 59.2% in February 2026 and 41.0% in August 2026, down 18.2 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 Portsmouth CDC, about 1 mile from Portsmouth.
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.