| 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 |
| 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 |
- Price is per single body area. Contrast, if needed, is £125 extra.
Each figure is the centre's own published price, checked 5 October 2026; the quote a centre gives you for Nottingham is what counts. Listed does not mean partner. See Sources.
What we can and cannot do in Nottingham
We are not a clinic and not the NHS. We do not scan, diagnose, refer or book a slot, and we cannot tell you whether you need a knee MRI. Urgent symptoms such as new weakness, numbness around the genitals or back passage, loss of bladder or bowel control, a sudden severe headache or chest pain need 999, NHS 111 or your GP today. What we can do: show the Nottingham prices and rules we checked, and pass your request to one partner centre covering Nottingham, if one does. Free for you; the centre may pay us.
Four steps to a private knee MRI in Nottingham
- Body area: knee, one side unless you say otherwise.
- Referral rule: self-referral or a letter, depending on the Nottingham centre.
- Centre type: dedicated, hospital group or open, compared on price, rule and report time.
- Ask one centre to contact you with the form. Nothing is booked until you agree a time and price.
Where can I get a private knee MRI in Nottingham?
Nottingham has private hospitals in and around the city, a dedicated scanning site to the north of the centre, and further options across the East Midlands. Nottingham and Derby are close enough that some people choose between them.
Vista Health's location list on 5 October 2026 included a Nottingham site in the NG5 postcode, north of the city centre, charging its national prices. Spire Healthcare's hospital list includes Spire Nottingham Hospital, and Circle Health Group lists The Park Hospital in Nottingham. Neither published a Nottingham MRI price we could verify on 5 October 2026, so they are not in the table.
Vista Health's own location list, checked 5 October 2026, includes these sites for the Nottingham area: Nottingham. Its prices are national, so the table row applies to each of them; check that the site you pick offers a knee scan on the day you want.
Can I book a private knee MRI in Nottingham without a GP?
Yes, at centres that accept self-referral. Dedicated centres such as Vista Health take adult self-referral for a knee scan after a safety and clinical questionnaire, and they charge the same price at each of their sites, including those near Nottingham. Hospital groups usually want a referral from a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist. If a physio in Nottingham has already examined your knee, their referral is often the quickest route to a hospital-group scan. Insurers usually want a GP referral and an authorisation number first. See self-referral.
For a knee in Nottingham, the dedicated site north of the centre takes self-referral at national prices. Knee scans are feet first. Spire Nottingham and The Park Hospital may also scan knees, but did not publish prices we could verify on 5 October 2026, so ask them for a written quote.
How long is the NHS wait for an MRI in Nottingham?
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust runs the Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. NHS England's diagnostics waiting times data for July 2026 (DM01, published 10 September 2026) show that 21.4% of people waiting for an MRI had already waited six weeks or more. That is the England figure; the trust's own figure is in NHS England's monthly diagnostics data by provider.
How do I get to a scanning centre in or near Nottingham?
Nottingham's tram network links the city centre with the Queen's Medical Centre and several suburbs, and buses are frequent. Hospital sites in the city usually have paid parking that can be busy in the morning. If you are coming from outside the city, a site on the north side may be quicker to reach from the M1 than the centre.
If you live in Mansfield, Newark or Loughborough, compare the drive to a Nottingham site with your nearest hospital. The ring road can be slow at peak times. Ask about parking, and check whether the site is near a tram or bus stop if you cannot drive after your scan.
Will a Nottingham knee scan report say whether I need surgery?
No. The radiologist describes what the images show, such as a meniscal tear, a ligament injury or cartilage thinning. Whether that needs surgery depends on your symptoms, your examination and what you want to get back to. Many meniscal tears seen on MRI, especially in people over 40, are managed without an operation. Take the report to a physio, GP or knee surgeon, ideally the person who examined you, and ask what it changes.
Should I see a physio in Nottingham before a knee MRI?
Often, yes. A physiotherapist's examination can tell you whether your knee problem is likely to be something a scan would change, such as a meniscus or ligament tear after a twisting injury, or something that usually gets better with rehabilitation. Many private physios in and around Nottingham can refer you for a scan if they think it is needed, and they can then read the report with you. If you book a scan first, decide now who will explain the report.
Can I have a knee MRI in Nottingham after knee surgery or a replacement?
Usually, after surgery such as an arthroscopy or ligament reconstruction, yes; the screws and anchors used are mostly MRI-safe, but the centre will want the details. A metal knee replacement is different: it distorts the images around it, so many radiologists prefer other tests, and some Nottingham centres will not scan a replaced knee at all. Tell the centre the date and type of any operation when you book, and bring the operation note if you have it. If a surgeon is asking for the scan, ask whether they want a particular protocol.
Back to the main private knee MRI page, or see other cities.
Is there a private MRI scanner in Nottingham?
Yes. On 5 October 2026, Vista Health's location list included a Nottingham site in the NG5 postcode, north of the city centre.
Do Nottingham private hospitals publish MRI prices?
Of those we checked on 5 October 2026, Spire Nottingham Hospital and The Park Hospital did not publish an MRI price we could verify.
Can I book a private knee MRI in Nottingham without a GP?
Yes, at dedicated centres that take adult self-referral for knees. A Nottingham hospital-group site will usually want a letter from a GP, consultant or physio.
Can a replaced knee be scanned in Nottingham?
Sometimes, but a metal replacement distorts the images and some centres will not scan it. Give the centre the implant details first.
Want one Nottingham centre to call you? Request a private MRI.