MRI scan – The Rotherham NOT LIVE
10 in 10 (95.7%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (726 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 Rotherham
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Rotherham, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Rotherham: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest The Rotherham hospital: Doncaster Gate Hospital (S65 1DA), under a mile from central Rotherham.
- Usually referred to: patients in Rotherham are usually referred to The Rotherham 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 MRI scans: Montagu Hospital CDC (S64 0AZ), about 6 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS South Yorkshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, about 6 miles away, where 79.3% 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 The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
95.7%waiting under 6 weeks
726people on the MRI waiting list
31waiting 6 weeks or more
0waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 726 people were waiting for an MRI scan at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. 95.7% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 17.7 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 14.2 points above the North East and Yorkshire figure of 81.5%. 0 people (0.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
The Rotherham: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 95.7% | 726 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 99.9% | 807 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 100.0% | 839 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 99.9% | 740 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 96.5% | 775 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 100.0% | 723 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 100.0% | 995 | 80.0% |
How Rotherham compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | 95.7% | 726 | 0 |
| North East and Yorkshire region | 81.5% | 46,946 | 1,329 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 30 miles | 99.5% | 665 | 2 |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 99.4% | 788 | 0 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 95.1% | 2,030 | 0 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | about 27 miles | 90.8% | 3,954 | 65 |
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | about 18 miles | 87.4% | 2,034 | 80 |
| Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 6 miles | 79.3% | 3,718 | 127 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 13 miles | 67.1% | 2,098 | 25 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 34 miles | 58.4% | 5,415 | 477 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 11 miles | 49.8% | 4,189 | 596 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 6 miles | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.3% | 3,718 |
| Doncaster | 11 miles | Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 49.8% | 4,189 |
| Chesterfield | 13 miles | Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% | 2,098 |
| Wakefield | 18 miles | Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | 87.4% | 2,034 |
| Mansfield | 21 miles | Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 95.1% | 2,030 |
| Leeds | 27 miles | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 90.8% | 3,954 |
| Bradford | 30 miles | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.5% | 665 |
| Stockport | 33 miles | Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | 99.4% | 788 |
More for Rotherham: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Rotherham · CT scan waiting times in Rotherham · Ultrasound waiting times in Rotherham · Endoscopy waiting times in Rotherham. 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 Rotherham?
At the end of August 2026, 95.7% of the 726 people waiting for an MRI scan at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 0 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Rotherham getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust was 100.0% in February 2026 and 95.7% in August 2026, down 4.3 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 Montagu Hospital CDC, about 6 miles from Rotherham.
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.