MRI scan – Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (86.2%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,904 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 St Helens
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving St Helens, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
St Helens: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals hospital: St Helens Hospital (WA9 3DA), about 1 mile from central St Helens.
- Usually referred to: patients in St Helens are usually referred to Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals 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: St Helens CDC (L35 5DR), about 3 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, about 10 miles away, where 90.5% 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 Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
86.2%waiting under 6 weeks
2,904people on the MRI waiting list
402waiting 6 weeks or more
27waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,904 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 86.2% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 8.2 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 3.9 points below the North West figure of 90.1%. 27 people (0.9%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 86.2% | 2,904 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 86.0% | 2,736 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 86.1% | 2,453 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 84.2% | 1,959 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 85.2% | 1,935 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 89.9% | 1,900 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 93.3% | 1,827 | 80.0% |
How St Helens compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 86.2% | 2,904 | 27 |
| North West region | 90.1% | 43,852 | 543 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | about 23 miles | 100.0% | 2,134 | 0 |
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 47 miles | 99.5% | 665 | 2 |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | about 24 miles | 99.4% | 788 | 0 |
| Bolton NHS Foundation Trust | about 16 miles | 98.6% | 792 | 1 |
| Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 15 miles | 98.1% | 1,105 | 2 |
| Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 96.4% | 1,326 | 0 |
| Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 90.7% | 7,627 | 8 |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 10 miles | 90.5% | 2,319 | 0 |
| Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 86.8% | 7,589 | 153 |
| Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 53 miles | 79.3% | 3,718 | 127 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 10 miles | Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 90.5% | 2,319 |
| Wirral | 15 miles | Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 98.1% | 1,105 |
| Bolton | 16 miles | Bolton NHS Foundation Trust | 98.6% | 792 |
| Salford | 19 miles | Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust | 90.7% | 7,627 |
| Manchester | 21 miles | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust | 86.8% | 7,589 |
| Preston | 21 miles | Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 96.4% | 1,326 |
| Blackburn | 23 miles | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | 100.0% | 2,134 |
| Stockport | 24 miles | Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | 99.4% | 788 |
More for St Helens: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in St Helens · CT scan waiting times in St Helens · Ultrasound waiting times in St Helens · Endoscopy waiting times in St Helens. 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 St Helens?
At the end of August 2026, 86.2% of the 2,904 people waiting for an MRI scan at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 27 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in St Helens getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was 93.3% in February 2026 and 86.2% in August 2026, down 7.1 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 St Helens CDC, about 3 miles from St Helens.
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.