MRI scan – Royal Devon University Healthcare NOT LIVE
3 in 5 (57.8%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (4,597 waiting).
Official monthly figure, end of Aug 2026 · published 8 October 2026 · NHS England
Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Page updated 2 November 2026
MRI scan waiting times in Exeter
Short answer: At the end of August 2026, 57.8% of the 4,597 people waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the main trust serving Exeter, had waited under 6 weeks, compared with 84.1% across the South West region and 78.0% in England. 668 people had waited 13 weeks or more. The NHS standard is that fewer than 1% wait 6 weeks or more.
Source: NHS England diagnostics (DM01) statistics, published 8 October 2026. These are past figures, not a forecast of how long you will wait.
How long people are waiting for an MRI scan at the hospital trust serving Exeter, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Exeter: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest hospital run by Royal Devon University Healthcare: Heavitree Hospital (EX1 2ED), under a mile from central Exeter.
- Usually referred to: patients in Exeter are usually referred to Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the nearest major hospital. Your GP or referrer can tell you where you would go.
- Nearest community diagnostic centre doing MRI scans: Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC (EX2 7JG), about 3 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Devon ICB.
- A nearby alternative: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, about 18 miles away, where 81.7% of its MRI scan list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of Aug 2026.
What is an MRI scan?
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.
MRI scan waiting list at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
57.8%waiting under 6 weeks
4,597people on the MRI waiting list
1,941waiting 6 weeks or more
668waiting 13 weeks or more
At the end of August 2026, 4,597 people were waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 57.8% had been waiting less than 6 weeks, which is 20.2 percentage points below the England figure of 78.0% and 26.3 percentage points below the South West figure of 84.1%. 668 people (14.5%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Royal Devon University Healthcare: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57.8% | 4,597 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 55.5% | 5,087 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 55.9% | 4,779 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 59.3% | 4,267 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 62.2% | 3,864 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 61.4% | 3,767 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 69.6% | 3,795 | 80.0% |
How Exeter compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 | 668 |
| South West region | 84.1% | 27,999 | 1,025 |
| England | 78.0% | 357,356 | 16,345 |
Compare all trusts across England on the compare page.
Nearby hospital trusts for MRI scans
Trusts serving towns within about 60 miles, 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 48 miles | 97.4% | 609 | 2 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 28 miles | 86.0% | 2,004 | 39 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | about 18 miles | 81.7% | 1,210 | 29 |
| University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | about 36 miles | 72.8% | 2,207 | 118 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiverton | 13 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 |
| Torquay | 18 miles | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 81.7% | 1,210 |
| Taunton | 28 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Barnstaple | 34 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 |
| Plymouth | 36 miles | University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust | 72.8% | 2,207 |
| Bridgwater | 37 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Yeovil | 42 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Dorchester | 48 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 97.4% | 609 |
More for Exeter: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Exeter · CT scan waiting times in Exeter · Ultrasound waiting times in Exeter · Endoscopy waiting times in Exeter. National picture: MRI scan waiting times in England · waiting times in the South West region.
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).
Sources and dates
| Official statistics | Reporting period | Published | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS England: Diagnostics waiting times (DM01) | August 2026 | 8 October 2026 | Official source |
This page was last updated on 2 November 2026. The reporting period is the time the figures describe; the published date is when the official publisher released them. These figures describe people who were already waiting or attending during the reporting period. They are not a forecast or a guarantee of how long someone referred now will wait: that depends on clinical urgency, the hospital and the service.
Official statistics are reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See data sources and methods, or report a figure that looks wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for an MRI scan in Exeter?
At the end of August 2026, 57.8% of the 4,597 people waiting for an MRI scan at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust had waited under 6 weeks, and 668 had waited 13 weeks or more. The England figure was 78.0% under 6 weeks.
Are MRI scan waits in Exeter getting shorter?
The share waiting under 6 weeks at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was 69.6% in February 2026 and 57.8% in August 2026, down 11.8 percentage points.
Can I have my MRI scan 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. The nearest community diagnostic centre recording MRI scans in NHS England’s Aug 2026 data is Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC, about 3 miles from Exeter.
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.