Waiting Times UK

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

MRI waiting times in Weymouth

How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Weymouth, 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.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

97.4%waiting under 6 weeks
609people on the MRI waiting list
16waiting 6 weeks or more
2waiting 13 weeks or more

At the end of August 2026, 609 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. 97.4% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 19.4 points above the England figure of 78.0% and 13.3 points above the South West figure of 84.1%. 2 people (0.3%) had waited 13 weeks or more.

How long people on the list had waited

0–1 weeks211
1–2 weeks138
2–3 weeks85
3–4 weeks68
4–5 weeks68
5–6 weeks23
6–7 weeks5
7–8 weeks1
8–9 weeks3
9–10 weeks1
10–11 weeks2
11–12 weeks1
12–13 weeks1
13+ weeks2
Dorset County Hospital: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI72%79%86%93%100%Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26May 26Jun 26Jul 26Aug 26

Dorset County Hospital: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England

MonthWaiting under 6 weeksWaiting listEngland under 6 weeks
August 202697.4%60978.0%
July 202698.1%58878.6%
June 202697.3%44577.7%
May 202694.0%31776.9%
April 202697.6%71875.5%
March 202693.6%90078.4%
February 202684.7%95380.0%

How Weymouth compares

AreaUnder 6 weeksWaiting list13+ weeks
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust97.4%6092
South West region84.1%27,9991,025
England78.0%357,35616,345

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.

TrustDistance (town)Under 6 weeksWaiting list13+ weeks
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trustabout 22 miles97.7%2,73624
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trustabout 53 miles94.6%1,1835
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustabout 59 miles91.1%1,87922
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trustabout 87 miles89.1%2,49246
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trustabout 50 miles86.3%1,58134
Somerset NHS Foundation Trustabout 24 miles86.0%2,00439
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trustabout 49 miles81.7%1,21029
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trustabout 76 miles72.8%2,207118
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trustabout 48 miles57.8%4,597668
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trustabout 61 miles41.0%2,737993

MRI waits in nearby towns

More for Weymouth: 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 Weymouth?

At the end of August 2026, 97.4% of the 609 people waiting at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 2 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.

Are MRI waits in Weymouth getting shorter?

The share waiting under 6 weeks at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was 84.7% in February 2026 and 97.4% in August 2026, up 12.7 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.