MRI scan – NHS Highland NOT LIVE
3 in 5 (62.3%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited 6 weeks or less (1,098 waiting).
Official monthly figure for Jun 2026 · Public Health Scotland
Scotland diagnostics data for June 2026, published 25 August 2026 · Page updated 2 November 2026
MRI scan waiting times in Inverness
Waiting times for MRI scans at NHS Highland, which serves Inverness, Scotland.
These are Scotland figures, not NHS England data. Health services in Scotland are run separately and publish their own statistics, which use different definitions. Figures here come from Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot).
Inverness: local hospitals and referrals
- Local NHS organisation: Inverness is served by NHS Highland, which runs its hospitals and decides where patients are referred.
- Nearest emergency departments: Raigmore Hospital (NHS Highland), about 1 mile away; Dr Gray's Hospital (NHS Grampian), about 35 miles away.
- Where to check your own referral: your GP or the hospital booking team at NHS Highland can tell you where you would be seen and your expected wait.
- Official source: Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot).
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 NHS Highland
At the end of the month (June 2026), 1,098 people were waiting for an MRI scan at NHS Highland, of whom 414 (37.7%) had waited more than 6 weeks. Across Scotland the figure was 22.6%; a lower percentage is better. Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland.
NHS Highland: % waiting over 6 weeks for MRI Scotland
| Month | NHS Highland % over 6 weeks | Scotland % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 37.7% | 22.6% |
| May 2026 | 43.3% | 24.5% |
| April 2026 | 44.3% | 28.1% |
| March 2026 | 41.7% | 29.0% |
| February 2026 | 32.3% | 36.2% |
| January 2026 | 36.9% | 45.6% |
| Health board | % over 6 weeks |
|---|---|
| NHS Borders | 1.4% |
| NHS Dumfries and Galloway | 2.7% |
| NHS Forth Valley | 4.8% |
| NHS Fife | 6.9% |
| NHS Grampian | 13.8% |
| NHS Orkney | 21.1% |
| Golden Jubilee National Hospital | 23.6% |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran | 23.9% |
| NHS Lothian | 24.0% |
| NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | 24.8% |
| NHS Lanarkshire | 26.3% |
| NHS Tayside | 31.2% |
| NHS Shetland | 32.1% |
| NHS Highland | 37.7% |
| NHS Western Isles | 40.4% |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Closest town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI waiting over 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 83 miles | NHS Grampian | 13.8% | 1,452 |
| Dunfermline | 102 miles | NHS Fife | 6.9% | 1,537 |
| Kirkcaldy | 103 miles | NHS Fife | 6.9% | 1,537 |
More for Inverness: all waiting times · CT scan waiting times in Inverness · Ultrasound waiting times in Inverness · Endoscopy waiting times in Inverness. England comparison: MRI scan waiting times in England.
Sources and dates
| Official statistics | Reporting period | Published | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Scotland: Scotland diagnostic waiting times (key tests) | June 2026 | 25 August 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 Inverness?
37.7% of the 1,098 people waiting for an MRI scan at NHS Highland had waited more than 6 weeks (June 2026), compared with 22.6% across Scotland.
Why is this not the same measure as England?
Scottish diagnostic figures count people waiting more than 6 weeks (42 days) at the end of the month, from Public Health Scotland. England reports the share waiting under 6 weeks from NHS England’s DM01 return.
Where do these figures come from?
From Public Health Scotland (open data at opendata.nhs.scot), published under the Open Government Licence.