Last reviewed 1 November 2026 · Page updated 1 November 2026
Private or NHS scan: what you need to know
In August 2026, 22.0% of people waiting for an NHS MRI in England had waited six weeks or more, against a standard of under 1%. Paying for a private scan does not remove your right to NHS care, but NHS and private care must be kept separate, and an NHS team may repeat a test if needed.
How long are NHS scan waits?
| Test | People waiting | Under 6 weeks | 6 weeks or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 357,356 | 78.0% | 22.0% |
| CT | 181,619 | 88.8% | 11.2% |
| Ultrasound | 648,630 | 78.3% | 21.7% |
| Endoscopy | 197,640 | 69.6% | 30.4% |
Waits vary a lot between hospitals. Check your local trust on the compare page or your town page.
Do I need a referral for a private scan?
Private providers have their own rules: some accept self-referral for some scans, others need a referral from a doctor. The provider’s own clinicians decide whether a scan is appropriate. Ask who will read (report on) the scan and how the results will reach you and your GP.
Can I go back to the NHS after a private scan?
Yes. You can move between private and NHS care. Paying privately for one part of your care does not take away your entitlement to NHS care, but each part must be kept separate (Department of Health: Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care). If you share private results, your NHS team will decide whether they can use them or whether a test needs to be repeated, for example because a different type of scan is needed.
What should I ask before paying for a scan?
- Is this the right type of scan for my symptoms, and who decides?
- Who reports on the images, and how long does the report take?
- Will the report and images be sent to my GP or NHS team?
- What happens if the scan finds something that needs follow-up?
- What is the full price, including any consultation or report fee?
Should I use my NHS rights first?
In England you have a legal right to start consultant-led, non-urgent treatment within 18 weeks of referral, with some exceptions, and you can usually choose where you are referred for a first outpatient appointment. Each hospital has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) that can help with questions about your wait. Your waiting time rights explained.
Not medical advice. If your symptoms change or get worse while you wait, contact your GP or the team treating you. If it is not an emergency, NHS 111 online or calling 111 can tell you where to go, including urgent treatment centres, which often have shorter waits. Call 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding or signs of a stroke.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my place on the NHS waiting list if I have a private scan?
Having a private scan does not remove your right to NHS care. Tell your NHS team so they can decide what happens next; you may stay on the list for any NHS care you still need.
Will the NHS accept my private scan results?
It depends. Your NHS team decides whether the results can be used, and may repeat a test if it is clinically needed.
How long do NHS MRI waits take?
In August 2026, 78.0% of people waiting for an NHS MRI in England had waited under six weeks. See MRI waiting times.
Does this site recommend private providers?
No. Waiting Times UK does not sell or recommend private healthcare and has no commercial links with providers.
What else might help?
- Where am I on the NHS waiting list?: How to check your waiting list, who to contact and what the NHS App shows.
- How long does an NHS referral take?: The 18-week clock, what happens after a GP referral, and waits by specialty.
- Urgent and fast-track scan waiting times: Urgent and routine scans, the 28-day cancer standard, and getting results.
- Your rights on NHS waiting times: 18 weeks, choosing your hospital, PALS and the rules in each UK nation.
- Compare NHS trusts on waiting lists, scans, cancer and A&E
Who wrote this page and where do the figures come from?
Written and maintained by the Waiting Times UK editorial team at Oaknest Media Ltd, an independent publisher that is not part of the NHS. Every figure is taken from an official publication, shown with its date, and linked below; where we add up or compare figures ourselves we say so. This page has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not medical advice. Text last checked by the editorial team on 1 November 2026; page last updated 1 November 2026.
- Department of Health: Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care
- NHS: Guide to NHS waiting times in England
- NHS England: Diagnostics waiting times (DM01) (August 2026)
Official statistics are reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See data sources and methods and about Waiting Times UK.
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