Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Scotland diagnostics data for June 2026, published 25 August 2026 · Wales diagnostics data for August 2026, published 22 October 2026 · Northern Ireland diagnostics data for Quarter ending June 2026, published 3 September 2026
CT waiting times
How long people are waiting for a CT scan in England, by region and NHS trust, from NHS England’s diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A CT (computed tomography) scan uses X-rays and a computer to make cross-section images of the body. It is quick and widely used for the chest, abdomen, head and to stage cancer.
At the end of August 2026, 181,619 people in England were waiting for a CT scan. 88.8% had waited under 6 weeks, down 1.8 points since February 2026. The standard is that fewer than 1% wait 6 weeks or more.
How long people had waited
England trend
England: % waiting under 6 weeks for CT
By region
| Region | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East and Yorkshire | 93.7% | 27,445 | 301 |
| North West | 91.5% | 21,927 | 255 |
| South West | 90.7% | 17,041 | 183 |
| East of England | 89.6% | 18,726 | 168 |
| Midlands | 88.1% | 35,601 | 1,350 |
| London | 86.9% | 31,368 | 1,052 |
| South East | 83.5% | 29,511 | 1,374 |
Trusts in England
Trusts with at least 200 people on the CT waiting list, ordered by share waiting under 6 weeks. Includes independent-sector and specialist providers, which can have shorter lists.
Scotland
Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland. Not NHS England data. Scotland overall: 9.3% of 19,085 waiting over 6 weeks (June 2026).
| Board / trust | % over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|
| NHS Orkney | 0.0% | 49 |
| NHS Fife | 0.5% | 743 |
| NHS Borders | 2.2% | 413 |
| NHS Grampian | 5.2% | 2,004 |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 5.8% | 5,294 |
| NHS Western Isles | 6.3% | 159 |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 7.6% | 765 |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 8.1% | 1,166 |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 8.8% | 1,928 |
| NHS Shetland | 9.5% | 63 |
| NHS Lothian | 12.6% | 2,697 |
| NHS Tayside | 13.0% | 1,697 |
| NHS Forth Valley | 17.2% | 1,244 |
| NHS Highland | 27.2% | 863 |
| Golden Jubilee National Hospital | 27.4% | 157 |
Wales
Welsh diagnostic figures use an 8-week measure (people waiting more than 8 weeks), not the 6-week measure used in England and Scotland, so the numbers are not directly comparable. Not NHS England data. Wales overall: 21.7% of 11,908 waiting over 8 weeks (August 2026).
| Board / trust | % over 8 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|
| Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | 1.2% | 692 |
| Hywel Dda University Health Board | 1.4% | 986 |
| Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | 7.2% | 1,270 |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | 13.5% | 3,308 |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | 29.6% | 2,764 |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 41.8% | 2,888 |
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland diagnostic figures are published quarterly by the Department of Health and count people waiting more than 6 weeks at the end of the quarter. Not NHS England data. Northern Ireland overall: 46.8% of 12,893 waiting over 6 weeks (Quarter ending June 2026).
| Board / trust | % over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|
| Western HSC Trust | 39.6% | 1,365 |
| Belfast HSC Trust | 41.8% | 2,955 |
| Northern HSC Trust | 49.4% | 2,937 |
| Southern HSC Trust | 49.7% | 2,514 |
| South Eastern HSC Trust | 50.1% | 3,122 |
CT waits by town
Aberdeen · Antrim · Ashford · Ballymena · Banbury · Bangor (County Down) · Bangor (Gwynedd) · Barnstaple · Basingstoke · Bath · Belfast · Bicester · Birmingham · Blackburn · Bolton · Bournemouth · Bradford · Bridgwater · Brighton · Burnley · Camden · Canterbury · Cardiff · Chesterfield · Coventry · Crawley · Croydon · Dartford · Derby · Doncaster · Dorchester · Dudley · Dunfermline · East Kilbride · Eastbourne · Edinburgh · Epsom · Exeter · Falmouth · Flint · Gateshead · Glasgow · Greenwich · Guildford · Hackney · Hamilton · Harrogate · Hastings · Inverness · Kirkcaldy · Leamington Spa · Leeds · Leicester · Lewes · Liverpool · Londonderry / Derry · Loughborough · Maidenhead · Maidstone · Manchester · Mansfield · Newcastle upon Tyne · Newport · Newquay · Newry · Nottingham · Nuneaton · Oxford · Penzance · Plymouth · Pontypridd · Poole · Portsmouth · Preston · Reading · Rotherham · Salford · Scarborough · Sheffield · Slough · Southampton · St Helens · Stockport · Sunderland · Swansea · Taunton · Tiverton · Torquay · Truro · Wakefield · Warwick · Westminster · Weymouth · Winchester · Wirral · Woking · Wolverhampton · Worthing · Yeovil · York
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for a CT scan in England?
At the end of August 2026, 88.8% of the 181,619 people waiting had waited under 6 weeks and 4,683 had waited 13 weeks or more.
What is the diagnostic waiting time standard?
The NHS constitution standard is that fewer than 1% of patients should wait 6 weeks or more for a diagnostic test after referral.
Do urgent referrals wait as long?
No. Urgent referrals, including suspected cancer, are prioritised. The figures cover everyone on the list, so routine waits can be longer than the average suggests.
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.