| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated scanning centre group (Vista Health) | £249 off-peak; £360 standard; £380 fast track (within 7 days) | Self-referral accepted (18+) | Written report within 3 working days | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Open or upright MRI (dedicated centre group) (Vista Health) | From £575 (Birmingham upright); from £600 (London open and upright) | Self-referral form offered | Report by a consultant radiologist; time not stated on the page | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group (50+ hospitals) (Circle Health Group) | From £347; varies by hospital, quote may be higher | Priced on the scans requested by the professional who referred you | Same day in some cases; otherwise within one week | circlehealthgroup.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group diagnostic suite (Nuffield Health Manchester Diagnostic Suite) | £400 one part; £538 two parts; £658 three parts (guide prices) | Referral from a registered healthcare professional needed | Results within a few days | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group hospital (Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital) | £620 one part (guide price) | Referral from a healthcare professional needed | Results to your referrer within a week | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| Online booking service (150+ partner centres) (Scan.com) | From £305, including a referral written by its medical team | No GP letter needed; its clinicians compile the referral | Estimated 7 to 10 working days | uk.scan.com | 5 October 2026 |
- Price is per single body area. Contrast, if needed, is £125 extra.
Prices are the centres' own published figures, checked by Pete on 5 October 2026. A centre may change a price at any time; the centre's quote is what counts. We delete a row we cannot re-check. Listing a centre here does not mean it is a partner of ours. Full list on Sources.
What we can and cannot do
We are not a clinic and not the NHS. We do not scan, diagnose, refer or book a confirmed slot. We cannot tell you whether you need an MRI. If you have new weakness, numbness in the saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe headache, chest pain or any symptom that frightens you, call 999 or NHS 111, or see your GP, today.
What we can do: explain the price, the referral rule and the centre types in plain English, and, if you ask, pass your request to one independent scanning centre that covers your area so it can contact you. That is free for you. The centre may pay us a fee.
Four steps to a private MRI
- Body area. Name the one area to be scanned: cervical spine. Two areas usually cost more than one.
- Referral rule. Check whether the centre takes self-referral or wants a letter from a GP, physio or consultant. See self-referral and GP letter.
- Centre type. Dedicated scanning centre, hospital group, or open MRI. Compare the from-price, the referral rule and the report time.
- Ask one centre to contact you. Use the form. One partner centre may call or email you. Nothing is booked until you agree a time and price with them.
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What does a cervical spine MRI show?
The cervical spine is the neck part of the spine: seven vertebrae, the discs between them, the spinal cord and the nerves that run into the shoulders and arms. A cervical MRI shows discs pressing on a nerve, narrowing of the spinal canal, changes in the spinal cord and wear in the small joints. It is the usual scan for neck pain that runs into an arm with tingling, numbness or weakness, and for problems a specialist wants to see in detail.
If you need the soft tissue of the neck scanned instead (glands, lumps, the throat), that is a different scan. See neck MRI.
When should I not wait for a private neck scan?
If you have new weakness in your arms or legs, clumsy hands, problems with walking or balance, or new bladder or bowel problems, get urgent medical help through NHS 111, your GP or A&E. Those can be signs of pressure on the spinal cord. A private scan booked for next week is not the right route.
Can I refer myself for a private cervical spine MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral for spine scans. Vista Health's spine page says spine scans start from £249 and offers self-referral for adults after a questionnaire. Hospital groups usually want a referral from a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist. An online booking service such as Scan.com has its own clinicians write a referral. See self-referral.
How much does a private cervical spine MRI cost?
One region of the spine is one area at most centres. On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £249 off-peak, £360 standard and £380 fast track. Hospital guide prices for one part ranged from £400 to £620 at the Nuffield Health sites we checked. Neck and lower back together are two areas. Open and upright scanners are available at a few places from £575; see open MRI.
What happens during a neck MRI?
You lie on your back, head first, with a coil around your head and neck. That makes a neck scan one of the harder ones if you dislike enclosed spaces. Ask whether the centre has a wider-bore scanner, a mirror or music, and tell them in advance. The scan usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Try not to swallow more than you need to, as it can blur the images.
What will the report say?
The radiologist describes each level, such as C5/6. Disc bulges and wear are very common in adults and are often not the cause of symptoms. Take the report to your GP, physio or a spinal consultant. Ask whether you can download the images.
Private cervical spine MRI by city
City pages are work in progress and are not yet indexed. They show what we checked locally: London · Birmingham · Manchester · Leeds · Liverpool · Sheffield · Bristol · Newcastle · Nottingham · Leicester · Southampton · Brighton · Cambridge · Oxford · Reading. See all cities.
Can I get a private neck spine MRI without a GP?
Yes, at some dedicated centres that accept self-referral. Hospital groups usually want a referral from a GP, consultant or physiotherapist.
How much is a cervical spine MRI privately?
On 5 October 2026, from £249 off-peak at a dedicated centre, and £400 to £620 for one part at the hospital sites we checked.
Is a cervical spine MRI the same as a neck MRI?
No. A cervical spine MRI looks at the bones, discs, cord and nerves. A soft-tissue neck MRI looks at glands, lumps and the throat.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.