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

Ultrasound waiting times in Plymouth

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

How long people are waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at the hospital trust serving Plymouth, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.

Non-obstetric ultrasound uses sound waves to look at organs such as the liver, kidneys, thyroid and pelvis. Pregnancy scans are not included in these figures.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

79.6%waiting under 6 weeks

4,062people on the ultrasound waiting list

828waiting 6 weeks or more

48waiting 13 weeks or more

At the end of August 2026, 4,062 people were waiting for an non-obstetric ultrasound at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. 79.6% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 1.3 points above the England figure of 78.3% and 8.0 points below the South West figure of 87.6%. 48 people (1.2%) had waited 13 weeks or more.

How long people on the list had waited

0–1 weeks727

1–2 weeks657

2–3 weeks587

3–4 weeks470

4–5 weeks410

5–6 weeks383

6–7 weeks300

7–8 weeks187

8–9 weeks148

9–10 weeks61

10–11 weeks44

11–12 weeks21

12–13 weeks19

13+ weeks48

University Hospitals Plymouth: % waiting under 6 weeks for ultrasound England

Month	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting list	England under 6 weeks
August 2026	79.6%	4,062	78.3%
July 2026	87.0%	3,888	80.4%
June 2026	89.4%	3,537	80.1%
May 2026	89.5%	3,072	79.5%
April 2026	87.3%	3,050	78.1%
March 2026	87.1%	3,098	82.3%
February 2026	89.1%	3,290	83.6%

How Plymouth compares

Area	Under 6 weeks	Waiting list	13+ weeks
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust	79.6%	4,062	48
South West region	87.6%	45,464	526
England	78.3%	648,630	30,620

Nearby hospital trusts for non-obstetric ultrasounds

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
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	about 76 miles	99.1%	1,321	2
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust	about 98 miles	99.1%	2,572	3
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	about 41 miles	98.6%	1,961	3
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	about 132 miles	91.1%	4,256	0
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust	about 126 miles	89.4%	3,329	11
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust	about 137 miles	88.7%	3,789	12
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust	about 104 miles	86.0%	3,261	94
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust	about 63 miles	84.8%	4,396	43
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	about 36 miles	74.4%	4,570	76
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust	about 27 miles	71.9%	2,330	107

Ultrasound waits in nearby towns

Nearby town	Distance	Main trust or board	Ultrasound under 6 weeks	Waiting list
Torquay	27 miles	Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust	71.9%	2,330
Exeter	36 miles	Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	74.4%	4,570
Truro	41 miles	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	98.6%	1,961
Newquay	41 miles	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	98.6%	1,961
Falmouth	44 miles	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	98.6%	1,961
Tiverton	46 miles	Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	74.4%	4,570
Barnstaple	48 miles	Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	74.4%	4,570
Taunton	63 miles	Somerset NHS Foundation Trust	84.8%	4,396

More for Plymouth: all waiting times · A&E · MRI · CT · Endoscopy. National picture: Ultrasound 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 non-obstetric ultrasound in Plymouth?

At the end of August 2026, 79.6% of the 4,062 people waiting at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 48 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.3% under 6 weeks.

Are Ultrasound waits in Plymouth getting shorter?

The share waiting under 6 weeks at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust was 89.1% in February 2026 and 79.6% in August 2026, down 9.5 points.

Can I have my ultrasound 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.