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Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026

MRI scan waiting times in Taunton

MRI scan – Somerset NOT LIVE

9 in 10 (86.0%)

people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,004 waiting).

Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England

How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Taunton, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.

Taunton: local hospitals and referrals

  • Nearest Somerset hospital: Trinity Hospital (TA1 3JG), under a mile from central Taunton.
  • Usually referred to: patients in Taunton are usually referred to Somerset 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: Somerset West CDC (TA1 2PX), about 1 mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
  • Integrated care board: NHS Somerset ICB.
  • A nearby alternative: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, about 19 miles away, where 57.8% 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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

86.0%waiting under 6 weeks
2,004people on the MRI waiting list
280waiting 6 weeks or more
39waiting 13 weeks or more

At the end of August 2026, 2,004 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. 86.0% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 8.0 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 1.9 points above the South West figure of 84.1%. 39 people (1.9%) had waited 13 weeks or more.

How long people on the MRI scan list had waited

0–1 weeks399
1–2 weeks397
2–3 weeks289
3–4 weeks252
4–5 weeks204
5–6 weeks183
6–7 weeks79
7–8 weeks61
8–9 weeks50
9–10 weeks25
10–11 weeks12
11–12 weeks5
12–13 weeks9
13+ weeks39
Somerset: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI73%78%82%87%91%Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26May 26Jun 26Jul 26Aug 26

Somerset: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England

MonthWaiting under 6 weeksWaiting listEngland under 6 weeks
August 202686.0%2,00478.0%
July 202686.2%2,01178.6%
June 202686.0%2,06977.7%
May 202686.8%1,91376.9%
April 202682.8%1,85675.5%
March 202689.0%2,01878.4%
February 202688.4%1,77380.0%

How Taunton compares

AreaUnder 6 weeksWaiting list13+ weeks
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust86.0%2,00439
South West region84.1%27,9991,025
England78.0%357,35616,345

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.

TrustDistance (town)Under 6 weeksWaiting list13+ weeks
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trustabout 53 miles97.7%2,73624
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trustabout 36 miles97.4%6092
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trustabout 41 miles94.6%1,1835
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustabout 78 miles91.1%1,87922
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustabout 94 miles88.1%4,34575
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trustabout 74 miles86.3%1,58134
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trustabout 43 miles81.7%1,21029
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trustabout 63 miles72.8%2,207118
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trustabout 19 miles57.8%4,597668
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trustabout 89 miles41.0%2,737993

MRI scan waits in nearby towns

More for Taunton: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Taunton · CT scan waiting times in Taunton · Ultrasound waiting times in Taunton · Endoscopy waiting times in Taunton. 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 Taunton?

At the end of August 2026, 86.0% of the 2,004 people waiting for an MRI scan at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 39 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.

Are MRI scan waits in Taunton getting shorter?

The share waiting under 6 weeks at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust was 88.4% in February 2026 and 86.0% in August 2026, down 2.4 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 Somerset West CDC, about 1 mile from Taunton.

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.