Diagnostic test · NHS England, July 2026
Echocardiogram NHS waiting times
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart. In July 2026, 160,977 people were waiting for one in England and 28.4% had waited 6 weeks or more.
People waiting
160,977
▼ −3,910 vs previous month
Waiting 6+ weeks
28.4%
▲ +0.7pp vs previous month
Standard: under 1%
Median wait so far
3.6 weeks
Tests done in the month
189,839
Shortest echocardiogram waits
Providers with at least 200 people waiting, sorted by share waiting 6+ weeks (July 2026).
| Hospital / provider | 6+ weeks | Median |
|---|---|---|
| East Lancashire HospitalsNorth West | 0.0% | 1.9 weeks |
| The RotherhamYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 2.3 weeks |
| Inhealth Limited | 0.0% | 2.3 weeks |
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated CareNorth West | 0.0% | 2.4 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 2.8 weeks |
| Leeds Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 0.1% | 1.8 weeks |
| The Royal WolverhamptonWest Midlands | 0.1% | 2.7 weeks |
| East and North Hertfordshire TeachingEast of England | 0.2% | 1.8 weeks |
| Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 0.4% | 1.4 weeks |
| Liverpool Heart and Chest HospitalNorth West | 0.4% | 2.1 weeks |
| University Hospitals SussexSouth East | 0.4% | 3.1 weeks |
| University Hospitals BirminghamWest Midlands | 0.5% | 2.1 weeks |
| Walsall HealthcareWest Midlands | 0.6% | 2.5 weeks |
| South Tyneside and SunderlandEast of England | 0.7% | 2.5 weeks |
| AiredaleYorkshire & the Humber | 0.7% | 2.6 weeks |
Longest echocardiogram waits
- Northampton General Hospital81.7% 6+ wks
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals75.3% 6+ wks
- Royal Papworth Hospital74.6% 6+ wks
- George Eliot Hospital71.4% 6+ wks
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals68.3% 6+ wks
- Mid and South Essex65.0% 6+ wks
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn63.6% 6+ wks
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals63.1% 6+ wks
- United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals60.5% 6+ wks
- Royal Berkshire58.7% 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 | 160,977 | 71.6% | 15,781 |
| June 2026 | 164,887 | 72.3% | 15,314 |
| May 2026 | 166,101 | 72.3% | 15,019 |
| April 2026 | 164,213 | 72.0% | 13,780 |
| March 2026 | 158,802 | 75.0% | 12,472 |
| February 2026 | 157,729 | 76.2% | 14,522 |
| January 2026 | 153,387 | 71.1% | 15,898 |
| December 2025 | 148,832 | 69.2% | 17,318 |
| November 2025 | 145,594 | 70.8% | 16,569 |
| October 2025 | 147,144 | 70.0% | 17,740 |
| September 2025 | 147,684 | 68.0% | 17,994 |
| August 2025 | 148,926 | 66.3% | 16,899 |
| July 2025 | 152,378 | 68.9% | 16,077 |
Questions
How long is the NHS waiting list for an echocardiogram?
In July 2026, 160,977 people in England were waiting for an echocardiogram. Half had waited longer than 3.6 weeks and 28.4% 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 an echocardiogram?
Among providers with at least 200 people waiting, the lowest share waiting 6+ weeks in July 2026 was at East Lancashire Hospitals (0.0%), The Rotherham (0.0%), Inhealth Limited (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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