Paying for MRI scan in the UK
A magnetic resonance imaging scan. The self-pay rows are for one body area.
Each row is one way of paying: the NHS, the NHS paying an independent provider, private medical insurance, and paying the provider yourself. Every figure links to the page it was read from, with the date. NHS waits are for England; charges for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are shown where they have been read. Where nothing is published, the table says so.
How each route pays for MRI scan
| Route | What it covers | Wait | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS trust135 trusts, 339,981 people waiting | NHS test: Magnetic Resonance ImagingThe wait for the test, not for treatment | 3.1 weeksmedian waited so far for the test, England, August 2026; 22.3% waiting 6 weeks or more. Calculated from NHS England's published weekly bands | Not applicableNHS-funded. None of the NHS charges read (dental, prescription, sight test) applies to this |
|
| NHS-funded at another provider146 independent-sector, GP and community providers, 17,375 people waiting. Not like-for-like with trusts | NHS-funded test: Magnetic Resonance ImagingNHS-funded patients. Not a self-pay wait | 2.2 weeksmedian waited so far for the test, England, August 2026; 15.8% waiting 6 weeks or more. Calculated from NHS England's published weekly bands | Not applicableNHS-funded. None of the NHS charges read (dental, prescription, sight test) applies to this |
|
| Private medical insuranceExplained as a mechanism. No insurer or policy is named or compared | Not trackedSet per policy. This site does not read policies | Not trackedNo waiting time for insured patients has been read | Not publishedWhat an insurer pays, and any excess or shortfall, is set per policy | None for this row |
| Self-pay: Cobalt Health | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “• 1 part MRI scan £366” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | From £366a starting price, not the fee for a named scan |
|
| Self-pay: LivingCare | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “MRI - 1 body part (same day appointment)” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | From £350a starting price, not the fee for a named scan |
|
| Self-pay: LivingCare | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “MRI - 1 body part (includes Private GP consultation for imaging referral and follow up wi…” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £425includes a consultation, so a different product |
|
| Self-pay: Nuffield Health | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “One anatomical area” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £589median of 33 of its hospitals, £400 to £620. Guide price, excludes consultant fees, prosthesis and drugs |
|
| Self-pay: Practice Plus Group | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “MRI scan – one body part” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £350 |
|
| Self-pay: Scan.com | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “Single Part” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | From £320a starting price, not the fee for a named scan |
|
| Self-pay: Unirad | MRI, one body areaPrinted as: “Most single-area MRI scans start from £290 . Specialist scans such as Cardiac, Prostate,…” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | From £290a starting price, not the fee for a named scan |
|
NHS England diagnostic waiting times (DM01): patients waiting at the end of the month for this test, and how long they have waited so far for the test itself. This is the wait for the test, not for treatment.
Self-pay rows are listed A to Z by provider, each with the product it prices and the page it was read from. A “from” figure is a starting price and is not comparable with a fixed fee.
More on MRI scan
Sources
- NHS England diagnostic waiting times (DM01), provider file, August 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- Cobalt Health price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- LivingCare price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- Nuffield Health price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- Practice Plus Group price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- Scan.com price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- Unirad price page. Read 5 October 2026.
This page presents published data. It does not recommend a route, a provider or an insurer.