Last reviewed 1 November 2026 · Page updated 1 November 2026
Urgent and fast-track scan waiting times
If cancer is suspected, the NHS aims to diagnose or rule it out within 28 days of an urgent referral; in August 2026, 78.6% of people in England got an answer in time (target 80%). For routine scans the standard is six weeks: 22.0% of MRI, 11.2% of CT and 21.7% of ultrasound waits exceeded it.
What is the difference between an urgent and a routine scan referral?
The person who requests your scan (your GP or hospital team) decides how urgent it is, based on your symptoms. Urgent requests, including suspected cancer, are booked ahead of routine ones. The national diagnostic standard is that fewer than 1% of patients should wait six weeks or more for a test.
How long will I wait for an MRI, CT or ultrasound scan?
| Test | People waiting | % waiting 6+ weeks | Waiting 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI | 357,356 | 22.0% | 16,345 |
| CT | 181,619 | 11.2% | 4,683 |
| Ultrasound | 648,630 | 21.7% | 30,620 |
| Endoscopy | 197,640 | 30.4% | 26,159 |
These figures include urgent and routine requests together, so routine waits can be longer than the average suggests. Source: NHS England DM01.
Is the two-week wait for cancer still in place?
The two-week wait target was replaced in 2023 by the 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard, which measures the time to a diagnosis or to cancer being ruled out. Urgent suspected cancer referrals still exist, and you should be contacted quickly.
| Time from urgent referral to diagnosis or all-clear | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Within 14 days | 118,898 | 43.4% |
| 15 to 28 days | 96,093 | 35.1% |
| 29 to 42 days | 31,267 | 11.4% |
| 43 to 62 days | 17,298 | 6.3% |
| After 62 days | 10,108 | 3.7% |
How long do MRI and CT scan results take?
There is no single national figure for how long scan results take. Results are sent to the person who requested the scan, and timing depends on the urgency and the hospital. Ask when you have the scan how and when you will get the results, and contact the requester if you have not heard by then.
What should I do if my urgent referral has not been booked?
Contact the hospital booking team or the person who referred you to check the referral was received. PALS can help if you cannot get an answer. This is to make sure the referral has not been lost; it will not change your clinical priority.
Do most people referred urgently have cancer?
No. Most people referred urgently with suspected cancer do not have cancer (Cancer Research UK: urgent referrals for suspected cancer). The referral makes sure it is checked quickly.
More: cancer waiting times by trust and private or NHS scans.
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
How long does an urgent MRI take on the NHS?
There is no published national figure for urgent scans alone. Across all requests in August 2026, 78.0% of people waiting for an MRI in England had waited under six weeks. Urgent requests are booked ahead of routine ones.
What is the Faster Diagnosis Standard?
An NHS standard that people urgently referred with suspected cancer, or picked up through screening, should be told they have cancer or that it has been ruled out within 28 days.
Can I ask for my scan to be made urgent?
Urgency is a clinical decision. If your symptoms change or get worse, tell your GP or the team that requested the scan, as they may review it.
Who gives me my scan results?
Usually the person who requested the scan, such as your GP or consultant. Ask at your scan how you will get the results.
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.
- Your rights on NHS waiting times: 18 weeks, choosing your hospital, PALS and the rules in each UK nation.
- Private or NHS scan: what you need to know: NHS scan waits, how private scans work and moving back to NHS care.
- 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.
- NHS: Guide to NHS waiting times in England
- Cancer Research UK: urgent referrals for suspected cancer
- NHS England: Diagnostics waiting times (DM01) (August 2026)
- NHS England: Cancer waiting times (provisional, 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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