NHS in England adds 125 CT and MRI scanners in two years
Most of the new machines went into community diagnostic centres, which carried out nearly 2.2 million CT and MRI scans in the year to March 2026. AI software that shortens MRI scans is on more than half of compatible scanners.
The NHS in England had 125 more CT and MRI scanners in March 2026 than in March 2024, according to NHS England's 2025/2026 National Imaging Data Collection, published on Tuesday. The Department of Health and Social Care says the extra machines, together with AI software, are helping to deliver around a million extra scans a year.
Of the 125, 107 went into community diagnostic centres, which bring tests and scans into the community, closer to where patients live. Those centres carried out nearly 2.2 million CT and MRI scans in the 12 months to March 2026, a million more than in the 12 months to March 2024.
CT and MRI scans are used to diagnose cancers including lung, brain, breast and prostate cancer, as well as other serious conditions.
Shorter MRI scans
AI acceleration software has been installed on 54% of compatible NHS MRI scanners. It needs less data to produce a high-quality image, so each scan is quicker, and on average services using it carry out 14% more scans while keeping image quality.
The NHS website says an MRI scan usually takes between 15 minutes and 1 hour, though it can take longer, and the department notes that the time depends on the part of the body being scanned. Every NHS trust will be offered the chance to upgrade compatible MRI scanners by 2029. The department says a full rollout would let existing machines carry out up to 162,000 more checks a year.
Activity and waits
The department says every month of 2026 so far has set an NHS record for diagnostic activity, and the diagnostic waiting list has fallen in three of the five months since April.
A new community diagnostic centre for Manchester and Trafford, costing £19.2 million, officially opened on Thursday 29 October.
