Diagnostic test · NHS England, July 2026
Ultrasound (non-obstetric) NHS waiting times
An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to create images of organs and tissues. This excludes pregnancy scans. In July 2026, 669,426 people were waiting for one in England and 19.5% had waited 6 weeks or more.
People waiting
669,426
▲ +6,147 vs previous month
Waiting 6+ weeks
19.5%
▼ −0.4pp vs previous month
Standard: under 1%
Median wait so far
2.9 weeks
Tests done in the month
810,688
Shortest ultrasound (non-obstetric) waits
Providers with at least 200 people waiting, sorted by share waiting 6+ weeks (July 2026).
| Hospital / provider | 6+ weeks | Median |
|---|---|---|
| North Cheshire and MerseyNorth West | 0.0% | 1.0 weeks |
| Croydon Health ServicesLondon | 0.0% | 1.5 weeks |
| The Royal Orthopaedic HospitalWest Midlands | 0.0% | 1.6 weeks |
| Isle of WightSouth East | 0.0% | 1.6 weeks |
| The RotherhamYorkshire & the Humber | 0.0% | 2.0 weeks |
| Northumbria HealthcareNorth East & Yorkshire | 0.0% | 2.4 weeks |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight HealthcareSouth East | 0.1% | 1.7 weeks |
| Great Western HospitalsSouth West | 0.1% | 1.9 weeks |
| Royal SurreySouth East | 0.1% | 1.9 weeks |
| Homerton HealthcareLondon | 0.1% | 2.0 weeks |
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated CareNorth West | 0.1% | 2.2 weeks |
| AiredaleYorkshire & the Humber | 0.2% | 1.8 weeks |
| The Royal WolverhamptonWest Midlands | 0.2% | 1.9 weeks |
| StockportNorth West | 0.2% | 2.1 weeks |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 0.2% | 2.2 weeks |
Longest ultrasound (non-obstetric) waits
- The Cherwell Hospital79.1% 6+ wks
- East Kent Hospitals University63.0% 6+ wks
- Blakelands Hospital62.8% 6+ wks
- United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals59.2% 6+ wks
- Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals53.1% 6+ wks
- Inhealth Limited49.8% 6+ wks
- Nottingham University Hospitals48.1% 6+ wks
- North West Anglia44.7% 6+ wks
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals43.6% 6+ wks
- University Hospitals Birmingham39.5% 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 | 669,426 | 80.5% | 31,754 |
| June 2026 | 663,279 | 80.1% | 33,902 |
| May 2026 | 660,108 | 79.5% | 32,046 |
| April 2026 | 671,597 | 78.1% | 25,650 |
| March 2026 | 675,241 | 82.3% | 20,548 |
| February 2026 | 646,706 | 83.6% | 22,616 |
| January 2026 | 638,631 | 78.9% | 23,986 |
| December 2025 | 620,276 | 78.6% | 22,253 |
| November 2025 | 628,983 | 81.5% | 18,986 |
| October 2025 | 650,120 | 81.5% | 23,390 |
| September 2025 | 639,689 | 80.5% | 25,182 |
| August 2025 | 623,000 | 79.2% | 26,500 |
| July 2025 | 632,270 | 81.1% | 28,169 |
Questions
How long is the NHS waiting list for an ultrasound (non-obstetric)?
In July 2026, 669,426 people in England were waiting for an ultrasound (non-obstetric). Half had waited longer than 2.9 weeks and 19.5% 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 ultrasound (non-obstetric)?
Among providers with at least 200 people waiting, the lowest share waiting 6+ weeks in July 2026 was at North Cheshire and Mersey (0.0%), Croydon Health Services (0.0%), The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (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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