MRI scan – Dorset County Hospital NOT LIVE
More than 9 in 10 (97.4%)
people on the MRI scan waiting list had waited under 6 weeks (609 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 Weymouth
Short answer: At the end of August 2026, 97.4% of the 609 people waiting for an MRI scan at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the main trust serving Weymouth, had waited under 6 weeks, compared with 84.1% across the South West region and 78.0% in England. 2 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 Weymouth, from NHS England’s monthly diagnostics (DM01) statistics for August 2026.
Weymouth: local hospitals and referrals
- Nearest hospital run by Dorset County Hospital: Weymouth Community Hospital (DT4 7TB), under a mile from central Weymouth.
- Usually referred to: patients in Weymouth are usually referred to Dorset County Hospital 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: CDC Poole @ Dorset Health Village (BH15 2JB), about 22 miles away. Source: NHS England CDC activity data, Aug 2026.
- Integrated care board: NHS Dorset ICB.
- A nearby alternative: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, about 22 miles away, where 97.7% 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 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 percentage points above the England figure of 78.0% and 13.3 percentage points above the South West figure of 84.1%. 2 people (0.3%) had waited 13 weeks or more.
How long people on the MRI scan list had waited
Dorset County Hospital: % waiting under 6 weeks for MRI England
| Month | Waiting under 6 weeks | Waiting list | England under 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 97.4% | 609 | 78.0% |
| July 2026 | 98.1% | 588 | 78.6% |
| June 2026 | 97.3% | 445 | 77.7% |
| May 2026 | 94.0% | 317 | 76.9% |
| April 2026 | 97.6% | 718 | 75.5% |
| March 2026 | 93.6% | 900 | 78.4% |
| February 2026 | 84.7% | 953 | 80.0% |
How Weymouth compares
| Area | Under 6 weeks | Waiting list | 13+ weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 97.4% | 609 | 2 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | about 22 miles | 97.7% | 2,736 | 24 |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | about 53 miles | 94.6% | 1,183 | 5 |
| Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | about 59 miles | 91.1% | 1,879 | 22 |
| University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust | about 50 miles | 86.3% | 1,581 | 34 |
| Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | about 24 miles | 86.0% | 2,004 | 39 |
| Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | about 49 miles | 81.7% | 1,210 | 29 |
| Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | about 48 miles | 57.8% | 4,597 | 668 |
MRI scan waits in nearby towns
| Nearby town | Distance | Main trust or board | MRI under 6 weeks | Waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester | 7 miles | Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | 97.4% | 609 |
| Poole | 22 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Yeovil | 24 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Bournemouth | 26 miles | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust | 97.7% | 2,736 |
| Taunton | 40 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Bridgwater | 43 miles | Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | 86.0% | 2,004 |
| Exeter | 48 miles | Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 57.8% | 4,597 |
| Torquay | 49 miles | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | 81.7% | 1,210 |
More for Weymouth: all waiting times · A&E waiting times in Weymouth · CT scan waiting times in Weymouth · Ultrasound waiting times in Weymouth · Endoscopy waiting times in Weymouth. 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 Weymouth?
At the end of August 2026, 97.4% of the 609 people waiting for an MRI scan 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 scan 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 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 CDC Poole @ Dorset Health Village, about 22 miles from Weymouth.
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.