Waiting for a scan?
Waiting months for an MRI or a scan? Here is what the queue looks like, and the China route
In England, 21.4% of people waiting for an MRI had waited six weeks or more in July 2026. In Canada the median MRI wait is 18.1 weeks. At Chinese public hospitals an MRI is priced at about CNY 500 (≈ USD 75), and we confirm a date with the hospital before you book flights.
England: MRI patients waiting 6+ weeks (NHS England, Jul 2026)
21.4%
England: patients waiting 6+ weeks across 15 key tests, against a 1% standard
23.1%
Canada: median wait for an MRI (Fraser Institute, 2025)
18.1 weeks
China: public hospital MRI after the 2024–25 price reform (Xinhua)
CNY 500 (≈ USD 75)
Scan waits and the price of skipping them (sources: NHS England 2026; Fraser Institute 2025; cost guides and clinic pages 2025–26; China: Xinhua 2025)
| Where | Published wait | Self-pay scan price | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|
| England (NHS) | MRI 21.4% and CT 9.9% waiting 6+ weeks | Private MRI, one body part: GBP 249–750 | Official statistics, Jul 2026; cost guide, 2026 |
| Canada | Median MRI 18.1 weeks, CT 8.8, ultrasound 5.4 | Private MRI in Alberta: CAD 675–850 | Physician survey, 2025; clinic pages, 2025 |
| USA | No national queue figure | MRI: USD 300–800 at imaging centres, 1,200–3,500+ at hospitals | Cost guide, 2025–26 |
| Australia | No national MRI or CT wait figure found | Not compared | None found |
| China (public hospital) | No official waiting-time statistic | MRI about CNY 500 (≈ USD 75), CT about CNY 200 (≈ USD 30) | Official media, 2025 |
United Kingdom
Diagnostic waits are far above the standard
In July 2026, 443,200 people in England had waited more than six weeks for one of 15 key diagnostic tests, 23.1% of everyone waiting, against a standard of under 1%. For MRI the figure was 21.4%, and for CT 9.9%. A private MRI of one body part typically costs GBP 249–750.
Canada
Months for an MRI, longer in some provinces
The Fraser Institute’s 2025 report puts the median MRI wait at 18.1 weeks, CT at 8.8 weeks and ultrasound at 5.4 weeks. The provincial MRI median ranges from 12 weeks in Ontario and Quebec to 52 weeks in Prince Edward Island. CIHI data shows the median MRI wait grew by 15 days between 2019 and 2024. A private MRI in Alberta costs about CAD 675–850.
The China route
A date confirmed before you fly, at a regulated price
There is no official waiting-time statistic for scans in China, so we do not promise one. We ask the hospital for a confirmed date for your checkup or scan before you book flights. After the 2024–25 national radiology price reform, a public hospital MRI costs about CNY 500 (≈ USD 75) and CT about CNY 200 (≈ USD 30) in many provinces, and a full checkup package can be added to the same visit.
We handle the China part
An English-speaking coordinator from airport to aftercare
We book the hospital, meet you at the airport, arrange a hotel near the hospital, put an interpreter beside you at every appointment, help with WeChat and Alipay payment, translate your reports into English and stay in touch for follow-up after you fly home.
Common questions
How long is the wait for an MRI on the NHS?
In England, 21.4% of people waiting for an MRI had waited six weeks or more at the end of July 2026 (NHS England). Across all 15 key diagnostic tests the figure was 23.1%, while the NHS standard is under 1%. Your own wait depends on your area and on how urgent your referral is.
How long is the wait for an MRI or other scan in Canada?
The Fraser Institute’s 2025 report puts the median wait at 18.1 weeks for an MRI, 8.8 weeks for CT and 5.4 weeks for ultrasound. Provinces differ widely: the median MRI wait ranges from 12 weeks in Ontario and Quebec to 52 weeks in Prince Edward Island.
Where can you get blood tests and a checkup without a doctor’s referral?
In China, public hospital checkup centres sell their packages directly, with published prices, so you choose a package rather than waiting for a referral. At Hangzhou First People’s Hospital the packages start at CNY 1,320–1,670 (≈ USD 200–250). Bring any recent results, and take the report to your own doctor afterwards.
How much does a checkup with blood tests, CT, ultrasound and MRI cost in China?
At Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, the top checkup tier costs CNY 6,880–7,723 (≈ USD 1,050–1,150) and includes CT, MRI of the head plus one other area and tumour markers. A single MRI at a public hospital costs about CNY 500 (≈ USD 75) and a CT about CNY 200 (≈ USD 30) in many provinces after the 2024–25 price reform. Foreign patients pay the full listed price.
Read more
- MRI Wait Times in Canada and the UK: Private Options Compared
Published MRI, CT and ultrasound waits in Canada and England, when you need a referral, and what a private MRI costs at home and at a public hospital in China.
- Breast Screening Under 50: Mammogram, Ultrasound or MRI
Breast imaging if you are under the screening age or have dense breasts: waits, NHS breast clinics, ultrasound and MRI, and where a checkup in China can fit in.
- Blood Test Panel Without a Referral: Options, Costs, China
How to get blood tests without a doctor's referral in the US and UK, what a routine panel should include, fasting rules, and what a checkup costs in China.
USD amounts converted at about CNY 6.70 per USD (2026-10-07), for reference only. Foreign patients pay the full listed price.