| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated scanning centre group: full-body packages (Vista Health) | £765 (brain, abdomen, pelvis); £1,345 (adds whole spine); £1,845 (adds heart) | Self-referral accepted (18+) | Clinical report and images included | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
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: full body. 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.
What does a full body MRI include?
"Full body" means different things at different centres. Vista Health, the only centre whose package prices we could verify, offered three on 5 October 2026: a Silver package covering brain, abdomen and pelvis at £765; a Gold package adding the whole spine at £1,345; and a Platinum package adding the heart at £1,845. Prostate imaging and extra body parts were optional add-ons. None of these packages scan your arms, legs or every joint.
What are the limits of a full body MRI?
Read this before you pay. A full body MRI is a screening scan for people without symptoms. It is not the right test for a symptom; if you have one, a scan of that area, ordered by a clinician, is more useful.
Screening scans of healthy people often find small things that are almost always harmless: cysts in the kidneys or liver, small nodules, minor disc changes. Each finding can lead to more scans, specialist appointments and worry, and some lead to procedures that carry their own risks. A normal full body MRI also does not rule everything out. It does not replace NHS screening programmes such as bowel, breast and cervical screening, and it does not look at the blood or the bowel lining.
Many doctors are cautious about whole-body screening of people without symptoms for those reasons. If you are considering it, ask the centre what happens when something is found, who pays for the follow-up, and whether a doctor will talk you through the report.
Can I refer myself for a full body MRI?
Yes, at Vista Health, which offers self-referral for adults after a questionnaire. Its page says you can spread the cost over three months interest free. We did not find other full body MRI prices we could verify on 5 October 2026, so we have not listed them.
What happens during a full body MRI?
You lie on your back, head first, and the table moves you through the scanner in stages. Vista Health gave approximate times of 1 hour 20 minutes for its Gold package and 1 hour 40 minutes for Platinum. You will hold your breath for short periods during the abdomen scans. Tell the centre about any implants and about claustrophobia; your head is inside the scanner for part of the time.
What should I ask before booking?
- Which areas are included, and which are not?
- Who reads it? A radiologist reporting each area, or one report overall?
- What happens if something is found? Is a consultation included?
- Will the report go to my GP, and do I want it to?
Is a full body MRI worth it?
That is your decision. If you are worried about a specific condition, a GP can tell you whether a targeted test would be more useful. If you have a family history of a condition, ask a GP whether you qualify for NHS screening or genetic advice first.
How much does a full body MRI cost in England?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health packages were £765 (brain, abdomen, pelvis), £1,345 (adds whole spine) and £1,845 (adds heart).
Does a full body MRI scan everything?
No. Packages cover set areas. Vista's did not include arms, legs or every joint, and no MRI looks at the blood or the bowel lining.
Is a full body MRI a good idea if I have no symptoms?
It often finds small, harmless things that lead to more tests and worry, and a normal scan does not rule everything out. Ask what happens if something is found.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.