Diagnostic test · NHS England, July 2026
CT scan NHS waiting times
A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed cross-section images of the body. In July 2026, 197,095 people were waiting for one in England and 9.9% had waited 6 weeks or more.
People waiting
197,095
▼ −6,293 vs previous month
Waiting 6+ weeks
9.9%
▲ +0.1pp vs previous month
Standard: under 1%
Median wait so far
1.8 weeks
Tests done in the month
844,929
Thinking of paying privately?
Published self-pay prices for a CT scan at the main UK private hospital groups start from £350 (up to about £950).
Shortest CT scan waits
Providers with at least 200 people waiting, sorted by share waiting 6+ weeks (July 2026).
| Hospital / provider | 6+ weeks | Median |
|---|---|---|
| North Tees and HartlepoolNorth East & Yorkshire | 0.0% | 0.8 weeks |
| MedwaySouth East | 0.0% | 0.8 weeks |
| AiredaleYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 0.8 weeks |
| Bradford Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 0.9 weeks |
| The Royal MarsdenLondon | 0.0% | 0.9 weeks |
| Great Western HospitalsSouth West | 0.0% | 1.0 weeks |
| The Dudley GroupWest Midlands | 0.0% | 1.4 weeks |
| Oxford University HospitalsSouth East | 0.0% | 1.5 weeks |
| West Hertfordshire Teaching HospitalsEast of England | 0.0% | 1.7 weeks |
| Northumbria HealthcareNorth East & Yorkshire | 0.0% | 1.8 weeks |
| Kingston and RichmondLondon | 0.0% | 1.8 weeks |
| George Eliot HospitalWest Midlands | 0.0% | 1.9 weeks |
| Whittington HealthLondon | 0.0% | 2.0 weeks |
| University Hospitals DorsetSouth West | 0.1% | 1.2 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 0.1% | 1.2 weeks |
Longest CT scan waits
- Nottingham University Hospitals41.3% 6+ wks
- East Kent Hospitals University37.4% 6+ wks
- Royal Papworth Hospital29.7% 6+ wks
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals28.2% 6+ wks
- North West Anglia27.1% 6+ wks
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital24.4% 6+ wks
- South Tyneside and Sunderland23.6% 6+ wks
- Milton Keynes University Hospital22.8% 6+ wks
- King's College Hospital22.6% 6+ wks
- Guy's and St Thomas'20.1% 6+ wks
England, last 13 months
% of people waiting under 6 weeks
Show month-by-month figures
| Month | Waiting | Within 6 wks | 13+ wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 197,095 | 90.1% | 4,515 |
| June 2026 | 203,388 | 90.2% | 5,034 |
| May 2026 | 198,188 | 89.0% | 5,604 |
| April 2026 | 209,251 | 87.5% | 6,136 |
| March 2026 | 208,352 | 90.0% | 5,080 |
| February 2026 | 204,749 | 90.6% | 5,731 |
| January 2026 | 197,173 | 88.6% | 5,891 |
| December 2025 | 177,730 | 87.8% | 6,740 |
| November 2025 | 183,394 | 90.4% | 5,921 |
| October 2025 | 182,028 | 90.5% | 6,523 |
| September 2025 | 175,790 | 90.2% | 6,813 |
| August 2025 | 164,078 | 88.1% | 6,895 |
| July 2025 | 177,078 | 89.1% | 6,527 |
Questions
How long is the NHS waiting list for a CT scan?
In July 2026, 197,095 people in England were waiting for a CT scan. Half had waited longer than 1.8 weeks and 9.9% had waited 6 weeks or more. The NHS standard is that no more than 1% should wait 6 weeks.
Which hospitals have the shortest waits for a CT scan?
Among providers with at least 200 people waiting, the lowest share waiting 6+ weeks in July 2026 was at North Tees and Hartlepool (0.0%), Medway (0.0%), Airedale (0.0%).
Can I get a scan or test done faster?
Tests are usually booked by the hospital or GP team that referred you. If you have been waiting a long time, contact the department or the hospital's patient advice and liaison service (PALS). Some tests are also offered at community diagnostic centres.
Sources: NHS England statistics on referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times (July 2026), A&E attendances (August 2026), diagnostic waiting times (DM01) and cancer waiting times, published 10 September 2026; hospital sites from the nhs.uk organisation data. Figures are checked against the official national totals before every update.
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