MRI scan – Hampshire Hospitals NOT LIVE
9 in 10 (91.1%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (1,879 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 Winchester
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Winchester, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Winchester: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest Hampshire Hospitals hospital: Royal Hampshire County Hospital (SO22 5DG), under a mile from central Winchester.
- Usually referred to: patients in Winchester are usually referred to Hampshire Hospitals 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: Royal South Hants CDC (SO14 0YG), about 11 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB.
- A nearby alternative: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, about 11 miles away, where 86.3% 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 Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
91.1%waiting under 6 weeks
1,879people on the MRI waiting list
168waiting 6 weeks or more
22waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 1,879 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 91.1% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 13.1 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 13.7 points above the South East figure of 77.4%. 22 people (1.2%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Hampshire Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 91.1% | 1,879 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 87.8% | 1,933 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 90.8% | 2,010 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 94.0% | 1,722 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 92.3% | 1,638 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 92.6% | 1,994 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 79.9% | 2,208 | 80.0% |
How Winchester compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 1,879 | 22 |
| South East region | 77.4% | 54,655 | 2,547 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | about 34 miles | 99.8% | 859 | 1 |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 37 miles | 99.2% | 1,029 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 34 miles | 97.7% | 2,736 | 24 |
| University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust | about 44 miles | 92.5% | 2,755 | 56 |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | about 31 miles | 89.1% | 2,492 | 46 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 48 miles | 88.1% | 4,345 | 75 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 11 miles | 86.3% | 1,581 | 34 |
| Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust | about 41 miles | 83.7% | 1,599 | 115 |
| Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust | about 49 miles | 73.9% | 2,579 | 2 |
| Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | about 20 miles | 41.0% | 2,737 | 993 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 11 miles | University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | 86.3% | 1,581 |
| Basingstoke | 17 miles | Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 91.1% | 1,879 |
| Portsmouth | 20 miles | Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust | 41.0% | 2,737 |
| Reading | 31 miles | Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | 89.1% | 2,492 |
| Bournemouth | 34 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Guildford | 34 miles | Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | 99.8% | 859 |
| Woking | 37 miles | Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 99.2% | 1,029 |
| Poole | 37 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
More for Winchester: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Winchester · CT scan waiting times in Winchester · Ultrasound waiting times in Winchester · Endoscopy waiting times in Winchester. 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 Winchester?
At the end of August 2026, 91.1% of the 1,879 people waiting for an MRI scan at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 22 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Winchester getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was 79.9% in February 2026 and 91.1% in August 2026, up 11.2 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 Royal South Hants CDC, about 11 miles from Winchester.
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.