CT scan – Royal Berkshire NOT LIVE
Nearly all (99.2%)
people on the CT scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,163 waiting).
Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026
CT scan waiting times in Reading
How long people are waiting for a CT scan at the hospital trust serving Reading, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Reading: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Royal Berkshire hospital: Royal Berkshire Hospital (RG1 5AN), under a mile from central Reading.
- Usually referred to: patients in Reading are usually referred to Royal Berkshire 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 CT scans: Bracknell Healthspace CDC (RG12 9RT), about 11 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Thames Valley ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, about 12 miles away, where 99.3% of its CT scan list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of Aug 2026.
What is a CT scan?
A CT (computed tomography) scan uses X-rays and a computer to make cross-section images of the body. It is quick and widely used for the chest, abdomen, head and to stage cancer.
CT scan waiting list at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
99.2%waiting under 6 weeks
1,163people on the CT waiting list
9waiting 6 weeks or more
1waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,163 people were waiting for a CT scan at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. 99.2% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 10.4 points above the England figure of 88.8% and 15.7 points above the South East figure of 83.5%. 1 people (0.1%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the CT scan list had waited
Royal Berkshire: % waiting under 6 weeks for CT England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99.2% | 1,163 | 88.8% |
| July 2026 | 96.4% | 1,370 | 90.1% |
| June 2026 | 92.6% | 1,506 | 90.1% |
| May 2026 | 91.9% | 1,470 | 89.0% |
| April 2026 | 92.3% | 1,541 | 87.5% |
| March 2026 | 97.9% | 1,634 | 90.0% |
| February 2026 | 98.6% | 1,678 | 90.6% |
How Reading compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | 99.2% | 1,163 | 1 |
| South East region | 83.5% | 29,511 | 1,374 |
| England | 88.8% | 181,619 | 4,683 |
Nearby hospital trusts for CT 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 24 miles | 100.0% | 2,552 | 0 |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | about 12 miles | 99.3% | 1,546 | 1 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 13 miles | 99.3% | 1,326 | 0 |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 20 miles | 99.2% | 521 | 0 |
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | about 23 miles | 99.0% | 496 | 4 |
| Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 31 miles | 97.9% | 1,377 | 5 |
| Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | about 36 miles | 97.9% | 2,867 | 3 |
| Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | about 36 miles | 97.3% | 1,636 | 3 |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 36 miles | 95.6% | 2,012 | 12 |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 36 miles | 74.5% | 1,425 | 150 |
CT scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | CT under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maidenhead | 12 miles | Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 99.3% | 1,546 |
| Basingstoke | 13 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.3% | 1,326 |
| Slough | 17 miles | Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | 99.3% | 1,546 |
| Woking | 20 miles | Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.2% | 521 |
| Guildford | 23 miles | Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 99.0% | 496 |
| Oxford | 24 miles | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 100.0% | 2,552 |
| Winchester | 31 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.3% | 1,326 |
| Epsom | 31 miles | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | 97.9% | 1,377 |
More for Reading: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Reading · MRI scan waiting times in Reading · Ultrasound waiting times in Reading · Endoscopy waiting times in Reading. National picture: CT 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 a CT scan in Reading?
At the end of August 2026, 99.2% of the 1,163 people waiting for a CT scan at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 1 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 88.8% under 6 weeks.
Are CT scan waits in Reading getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust was 98.6% in February 2026 and 99.2% in August 2026, up 0.6 points.
Can I have my CT 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 CT scans in NHS England’s Aug 2026 data is Bracknell Healthspace CDC, about 11 miles from Reading.
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.