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

MRI waiting times in Truro

Name: MRI waiting times in Truro (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 Truro, 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.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

94.7%waiting under 6 weeks

2,092people on the MRI waiting list

110waiting 6 weeks or more

17waiting 13 weeks or more

At the end of August 2026, 2,092 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. 94.7% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 16.7 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 10.6 points above the South West figure of 84.1%. 17 people (0.8%) had waited 13 weeks or more.

How long people on the list had waited

0–1 weeks508

1–2 weeks487

2–3 weeks347

3–4 weeks211

4–5 weeks243

5–6 weeks186

6–7 weeks22

7–8 weeks12

8–9 weeks16

9–10 weeks14

10–11 weeks9

11–12 weeks12

12–13 weeks8

13+ weeks17

Royal Cornwall Hospitals: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England

Month	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting list	England under 6 weeks
August 2026	94.7%	2,092	78.0%
July 2026	93.3%	2,370	78.6%
June 2026	94.6%	2,739	77.7%
May 2026	95.9%	2,602	76.9%
April 2026	96.3%	2,679	75.5%
March 2026	96.6%	2,871	78.4%
February 2026	95.8%	3,131	80.0%

How Truro compares

Area	Under 6 weeks	Waiting list	13+ weeks
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	94.7%	2,092	17
South West region	84.1%	27,999	1,025
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
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust	about 139 miles	97.7%	2,736	24
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	about 117 miles	97.4%	609	2
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust	about 141 miles	94.6%	1,183	5
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	about 173 miles	91.1%	1,879	22
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust	about 166 miles	86.3%	1,581	34
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust	about 100 miles	86.0%	2,004	39
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust	about 68 miles	81.7%	1,210	29
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust	about 41 miles	72.8%	2,207	118
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	about 71 miles	57.8%	4,597	668
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust	about 178 miles	41.0%	2,737	993

MRI waits in nearby towns

Nearby town	Distance	Main trust or board	MRI under 6 weeks	Waiting list
Falmouth	8 miles	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	94.7%	2,092
Newquay	10 miles	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	94.7%	2,092
Penzance	24 miles	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust	94.7%	2,092
Plymouth	41 miles	University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust	72.8%	2,207
Torquay	68 miles	Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust	81.7%	1,210
Barnstaple	71 miles	Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	57.8%	4,597
Exeter	74 miles	Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	57.8%	4,597
Tiverton	81 miles	Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust	57.8%	4,597

More for Truro: 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 Truro?

At the end of August 2026, 94.7% of the 2,092 people waiting at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 17 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.

Are MRI waits in Truro getting shorter?

The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust was 95.8% in February 2026 and 94.7% in August 2026, down 1.1 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.