MRI scan – The Royal Wolverhampton NOT LIVE
Nearly all (99.1%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (3,369 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 Wolverhampton
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Wolverhampton, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Wolverhampton: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest The Royal Wolverhampton hospital: West Park Hospital (WV1 4PW), under a mile from central Wolverhampton.
- Usually referred to: patients in Wolverhampton are usually referred to The Royal Wolverhampton 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: Cannock Chase CDC (WS11 5XY), about 8 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Black Country ICB.
- A nearby alternative: The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, about 6 miles away, where 96.0% 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 The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
99.1%waiting under 6 weeks
3,369people on the MRI waiting list
32waiting 6 weeks or more
0waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 3,369 people were waiting for an MRI scan at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. 99.1% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 21.1 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 28.2 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
The Royal Wolverhampton: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99.1% | 3,369 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 99.2% | 3,539 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 99.7% | 3,365 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 99.4% | 3,127 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 99.6% | 3,168 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 99.0% | 2,993 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 99.8% | 2,896 | 80.0% |
How Wolverhampton compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | 99.1% | 3,369 | 0 |
| 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 Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | about 6 miles | 96.0% | 2,066 | 4 |
| University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | about 28 miles | 92.6% | 4,802 | 193 |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | about 28 miles | 92.1% | 1,384 | 2 |
| University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | about 40 miles | 90.2% | 6,257 | 150 |
| Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 50 miles | 88.1% | 4,345 | 75 |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | about 32 miles | 80.6% | 2,176 | 0 |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | about 12 miles | 80.3% | 7,111 | 258 |
| Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust | about 48 miles | 58.4% | 5,415 | 477 |
| Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust | about 12 miles | 52.4% | 8,354 | 630 |
| University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | about 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 6 miles | The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | 96.0% | 2,066 |
| Birmingham | 12 miles | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | 80.3% | 7,111 |
| Nuneaton | 28 miles | George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | 92.1% | 1,384 |
| Coventry | 29 miles | University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust | 92.6% | 4,802 |
| Warwick | 32 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 80.6% | 2,176 |
| Leamington Spa | 32 miles | South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | 80.6% | 2,176 |
| Derby | 35 miles | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust | 46.9% | 6,883 |
| Loughborough | 40 miles | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | 90.2% | 6,257 |
More for Wolverhampton: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Wolverhampton · CT scan waiting times in Wolverhampton · Ultrasound waiting times in Wolverhampton · Endoscopy waiting times in Wolverhampton. 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 Wolverhampton?
At the end of August 2026, 99.1% of the 3,369 people waiting for an MRI scan at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS 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 Wolverhampton getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust was 99.8% in February 2026 and 99.1% in August 2026, down 0.7 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 Cannock Chase CDC, about 8 miles from Wolverhampton.
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.