MRI scan – Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NOT LIVE
4 in 5 (79.3%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (3,718 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 Sheffield
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Sheffield, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Sheffield: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Sheffield Teaching Hospitals hospital: Royal Hallamshire Hospital (S10 2JF), under a mile from central Sheffield.
- Usually referred to: patients in Sheffield are usually referred to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 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: Walton CDC (S40 3HW), about 11 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS South Yorkshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, about 6 miles away, where 95.7% 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 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
79.3%waiting under 6 weeks
3,718people on the MRI waiting list
771waiting 6 weeks or more
127waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 3,718 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 79.3% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 1.3 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 2.2 points below the North East and Yorkshire figure of 81.5%. 127 people (3.4%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 79.3% | 3,718 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 75.7% | 4,781 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 72.0% | 5,218 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 69.0% | 5,172 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 64.8% | 6,127 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 73.8% | 5,832 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 79.1% | 5,718 | 80.0% |
How Sheffield compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.3% | 3,718 | 127 |
| 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 31 miles | 99.5% | 665 | 2 |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | about 29 miles | 99.4% | 788 | 0 |
| The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | about 6 miles | 95.7% | 726 | 0 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 20 miles | 95.1% | 2,030 | 0 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | about 29 miles | 90.8% | 3,954 | 65 |
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | about 21 miles | 87.4% | 2,034 | 80 |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 miles | 86.8% | 7,589 | 153 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 10 miles | 67.1% | 2,098 | 25 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 17 miles | 49.8% | 4,189 | 596 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotherham | 6 miles | The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | 95.7% | 726 |
| Chesterfield | 10 miles | Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% | 2,098 |
| Doncaster | 17 miles | Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 49.8% | 4,189 |
| Mansfield | 20 miles | Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 95.1% | 2,030 |
| Wakefield | 21 miles | Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | 87.4% | 2,034 |
| Stockport | 29 miles | Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | 99.4% | 788 |
| Leeds | 29 miles | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 90.8% | 3,954 |
| Bradford | 31 miles | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.5% | 665 |
More for Sheffield: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Sheffield · CT scan waiting times in Sheffield · Ultrasound waiting times in Sheffield · Endoscopy waiting times in Sheffield. 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 Sheffield?
At the end of August 2026, 79.3% of the 3,718 people waiting for an MRI scan at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 127 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Sheffield getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was 79.1% in February 2026 and 79.3% in August 2026, up 0.2 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 Walton CDC, about 11 miles from Sheffield.
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.