MRI scan – South Tyneside and Sunderland NOT LIVE
4 in 5 (77.6%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,167 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 Sunderland
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Sunderland, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Sunderland: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest South Tyneside and Sunderland hospital: Sunderland Royal Hospital (SR4 7TP), about 1 mile from central Sunderland.
- Usually referred to: patients in Sunderland are usually referred to South Tyneside and Sunderland 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: Metrocentre CDC (NE11 9YR), about 12 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, about 9 miles away, where 100.0% 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 South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
77.6%waiting under 6 weeks
1,167people on the MRI waiting list
261waiting 6 weeks or more
29waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,167 people were waiting for an MRI scan at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. 77.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 0.4 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 3.9 points below the North East and Yorkshire figure of 81.5%. 29 people (2.5%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
South Tyneside and Sunderland: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 77.6% | 1,167 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 79.1% | 1,462 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 77.8% | 1,511 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 76.6% | 1,626 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 68.4% | 1,880 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 66.0% | 2,017 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 63.5% | 2,131 | 80.0% |
How Sunderland compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust | 77.6% | 1,167 | 29 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust | about 9 miles | 100.0% | 405 | 0 |
| East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | about 85 miles | 100.0% | 2,134 | 0 |
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 78 miles | 99.5% | 665 | 2 |
| Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 96 miles | 96.4% | 1,326 | 0 |
| York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 59 miles | 92.1% | 2,040 | 14 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | about 77 miles | 90.8% | 3,954 | 65 |
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | about 85 miles | 87.4% | 2,034 | 80 |
| The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 10 miles | 75.8% | 3,757 | 154 |
| Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | about 64 miles | 75.4% | 297 | 9 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 97 miles | 49.8% | 4,189 | 596 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateshead | 9 miles | Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust | 100.0% | 405 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 10 miles | The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 75.8% | 3,757 |
| Scarborough | 59 miles | York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 92.1% | 2,040 |
| Harrogate | 64 miles | Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | 75.4% | 297 |
| York | 67 miles | York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 92.1% | 2,040 |
| Leeds | 77 miles | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 90.8% | 3,954 |
| Bradford | 78 miles | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.5% | 665 |
| Burnley | 85 miles | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | 100.0% | 2,134 |
More for Sunderland: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Sunderland · CT scan waiting times in Sunderland · Ultrasound waiting times in Sunderland · Endoscopy waiting times in Sunderland. 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 Sunderland?
At the end of August 2026, 77.6% of the 1,167 people waiting for an MRI scan at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 29 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Sunderland getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust was 63.5% in February 2026 and 77.6% in August 2026, up 14.1 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 Metrocentre CDC, about 12 miles from Sunderland.
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.