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Magnetic Resonance Imagers: Greater Manchester

Asked by Jim McMahonLabour (Co-op)Department of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 15 December 2025UIN 97551

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of MRI scanning waiting lists in (a) all Greater Manchester hospitals (b) Royal Oldham Hospital.

Answered by Karin Smyth

Data on diagnostic lists and waiting times is published at a National Health Service trust level and is available in the document attached. We do not hold data on waiting lists for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in the Royal Oldham Hospital.

The following table shows the number of patients waiting for an MRI scan in all acute Greater Manchester NHS trusts, as well as the number and percentage waiting more than six weeks, with data being correct as of September 2025:

Name of acute NHS trust

Total waiting list for MRI scans as of September 2025

Number waiting more than six weeks for an MRI scan as of September 2025

Percentage waiting more than six weeks for an MRI scan as of September 2025

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust​

637

9

1.4%

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust​

7,807

1,515

19.4%

Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust, of which the Royal Oldham Hospital is a part

6,102

180

2.9%

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust​

1,145

8

0.7%

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust​

912

0

0%

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

412

8

1.9%

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

2,675

353

13.2%

Total

19,690

2,073

10.5%


The national six week waiting times standard is that no more than one percent of patients waiting for an MRI scan should wait more than six weeks, or 42 days.

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