MRI scan – Mid Yorkshire Teaching NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (87.4%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,034 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 Wakefield
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Wakefield, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Wakefield: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Mid Yorkshire Teaching hospital: Pinderfields General Hospital (WF1 4DG), under a mile from central Wakefield.
- Usually referred to: patients in Wakefield are usually referred to Mid Yorkshire Teaching 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: Wakefield CDC (WF2 9SD), under a mile away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS West Yorkshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, about 9 miles away, where 90.8% 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 Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
87.4%waiting under 6 weeks
2,034people on the MRI waiting list
257waiting 6 weeks or more
80waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,034 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. 87.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 9.4 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 5.9 points above the North East and Yorkshire figure of 81.5%. 80 people (3.9%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Mid Yorkshire Teaching: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 87.4% | 2,034 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 84.1% | 3,115 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 69.5% | 4,387 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 53.9% | 5,247 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 41.9% | 6,303 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 43.3% | 6,068 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 51.6% | 5,663 | 80.0% |
How Wakefield compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | 87.4% | 2,034 | 80 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | about 31 miles | 100.0% | 2,134 | 0 |
| Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 13 miles | 99.5% | 665 | 2 |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | about 33 miles | 99.4% | 788 | 0 |
| The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | about 18 miles | 95.7% | 726 | 0 |
| York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 26 miles | 92.1% | 2,040 | 14 |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | about 9 miles | 90.8% | 3,954 | 65 |
| Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 79.3% | 3,718 | 127 |
| Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | about 21 miles | 75.4% | 297 | 9 |
| Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | about 31 miles | 67.1% | 2,098 | 25 |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 9 miles | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 90.8% | 3,954 |
| Bradford | 13 miles | Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.5% | 665 |
| Rotherham | 18 miles | The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust | 95.7% | 726 |
| Doncaster | 19 miles | Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 49.8% | 4,189 |
| Sheffield | 21 miles | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 79.3% | 3,718 |
| Harrogate | 21 miles | Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | 75.4% | 297 |
| York | 26 miles | York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 92.1% | 2,040 |
| Chesterfield | 31 miles | Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 67.1% | 2,098 |
More for Wakefield: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Wakefield · CT scan waiting times in Wakefield · Ultrasound waiting times in Wakefield · Endoscopy waiting times in Wakefield. 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 Wakefield?
At the end of August 2026, 87.4% of the 2,034 people waiting for an MRI scan at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 80 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Wakefield getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust was 51.6% in February 2026 and 87.4% in August 2026, up 35.8 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 Wakefield CDC, under a mile from Wakefield.
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.