MRI scan – South Warwickshire University NOT LIVE
4 in 5 (80.6%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (2,176 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 Warwick
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trusts serving Warwick, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Warwick: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest South Warwickshire University hospital: Warwick Hospital (CV34 5BW), under a mile from central Warwick.
- Usually referred to: patients in Warwick are usually referred to South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust or University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire 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: South Warwickshire CDC (CV37 6NX), about 8 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB.
- A nearby alternative: George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, about 17 miles away, where 92.1% 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 Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
80.6%waiting under 6 weeks
2,176people on the MRI waiting list
422waiting 6 weeks or more
0waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 2,176 people were waiting for an MRI scan at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. 80.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 2.6 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 9.7 points above the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 0 people (0.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
South Warwickshire University: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 80.6% | 2,176 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 96.5% | 1,947 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 98.2% | 1,819 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 96.2% | 1,770 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 93.9% | 1,953 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 98.3% | 1,683 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 99.2% | 1,654 | 80.0% |
MRI scan waiting list at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
92.6%waiting under 6 weeks
4,802people on the MRI waiting list
355waiting 6 weeks or more
193waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 4,802 people were waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. 92.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 14.6 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 21.7 points above the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 193 people (4.0%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 92.6% | 4,802 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 93.4% | 4,561 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 93.1% | 4,199 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 91.9% | 3,791 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 91.8% | 3,934 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 91.6% | 3,891 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 92.1% | 3,850 | 80.0% |
How Warwick compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 80.6% | 2,176 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 92.6% | 4,802 | 193 |
| Midlands region | 70.9% | 82,432 | 5,198 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | about 32 miles | 99.1% | 3,369 | 0 |
| The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | about 27 miles | 96.0% | 2,066 | 4 |
| Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 62 miles | 95.1% | 2,030 | 0 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 17 miles | 92.1% | 1,384 | 2 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | about 31 miles | 90.2% | 6,257 | 150 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 18 miles | 88.1% | 4,345 | 75 |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | about 19 miles | 80.3% | 7,111 | 258 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 50 miles | 58.4% | 5,415 | 477 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | about 19 miles | 52.4% | 8,354 | 630 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leamington Spa | 2 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 80.6% | 2,176 |
| Coventry | 9 miles | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 92.6% | 4,802 |
| Nuneaton | 17 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 92.1% | 1,384 |
| Banbury | 18 miles | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 88.1% | 4,345 |
| Birmingham | 19 miles | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 80.3% | 7,111 |
| Dudley | 27 miles | The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | 96.0% | 2,066 |
| Leicester | 31 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
| Wolverhampton | 32 miles | The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | 99.1% | 3,369 |
More for Warwick: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Warwick · CT scan waiting times in Warwick · Ultrasound waiting times in Warwick · Endoscopy waiting times in Warwick. 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 Warwick?
At the end of August 2026, 80.6% of the 2,176 people waiting for an MRI scan at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 0 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Warwick getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust was 99.2% in February 2026 and 80.6% in August 2026, down 18.6 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 South Warwickshire CDC, about 8 miles from Warwick.
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.