Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026

MRI waiting times in Nottingham

Name: MRI waiting times in Nottingham (August 2026)
Creator: NHS England
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Nottingham, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.

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.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

58.4%waiting under 6 weeks

5,415people on the MRI waiting list

2,252waiting 6 weeks or more

477waiting 13 weeks or more

At the end of August 2026, 5,415 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. 58.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 19.6 points below the England figure of 78.0% and 12.5 points below the Midlands figure of 70.9%. 477 people (8.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.

How long people on the list had waited

0–1 weeks726

1–2 weeks575

2–3 weeks547

3–4 weeks499

4–5 weeks423

5–6 weeks393

6–7 weeks384

7–8 weeks366

8–9 weeks353

9–10 weeks259

10–11 weeks161

11–12 weeks139

12–13 weeks113

13+ weeks477

Nottingham University Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England

Month	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting list	England under 6 weeks
August 2026	58.4%	5,415	78.0%
July 2026	62.5%	6,499	78.6%
June 2026	58.5%	6,581	77.7%
May 2026	53.7%	6,609	76.9%
April 2026	51.2%	7,346	75.5%
March 2026	53.7%	7,504	78.4%
February 2026	54.4%	7,435	80.0%

How Nottingham compares

Area	Under 6 weeks	Waiting list	13+ weeks
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust	58.4%	5,415	477
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 Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust	about 34 miles	95.7%	726	0
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	about 13 miles	95.1%	2,030	0
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust	about 33 miles	92.6%	4,802	193
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust	about 33 miles	92.1%	1,384	2
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust	about 13 miles	90.2%	6,257	150
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust	about 45 miles	80.3%	7,111	258
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	about 33 miles	79.3%	3,718	127
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	about 23 miles	67.1%	2,098	25
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust	about 45 miles	52.4%	8,354	630
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	about 39 miles	49.8%	4,189	596
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust	about 14 miles	46.9%	6,883	903

MRI waits in nearby towns

Nearby town	Distance	Main trust or board	MRI under 6 weeks	Waiting list
Loughborough	13 miles	University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust	90.2%	6,257
Mansfield	13 miles	Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	95.1%	2,030
Derby	14 miles	University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust	46.9%	6,883
Leicester	21 miles	University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust	90.2%	6,257
Chesterfield	23 miles	Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	67.1%	2,098
Sheffield	33 miles	Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	79.3%	3,718
Nuneaton	33 miles	George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust	92.1%	1,384
Rotherham	34 miles	The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust	95.7%	726

More for Nottingham: all waiting times · A&E · CT · Ultrasound · Endoscopy. National picture: MRI 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 Nottingham?

At the end of August 2026, 58.4% of the 5,415 people waiting at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 477 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.

Are MRI waits in Nottingham getting shorter?

The share waiting under 6 weeks at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was 54.4% in February 2026 and 58.4% in August 2026, up 4.0 points.

Can I have my MRI 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.

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.