| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated scanning centre group: prostate MRI (Vista Health) | £395 bi-parametric (no contrast); £650 multi-parametric (with contrast); £695 with PSA test | Self-referral accepted (18+) | Report and images 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 |
| 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 |
- On the same date Vista's general MRI price list showed £495 bi-parametric and £595 multi-parametric. Ask the centre which price applies.
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: prostate. 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 prostate MRI show?
A prostate MRI shows the size and shape of the prostate and areas inside it that look different from normal tissue. Radiologists score those areas on a five-point scale (PI-RADS) for how likely they are to be a significant cancer. The scan helps decide whether a biopsy is needed and, if it is, where to take it. NICE guidance on prostate cancer (NG131) recommends multiparametric MRI as the first-line investigation for people with suspected clinically localised prostate cancer, before a biopsy.
An MRI cannot confirm or rule out cancer on its own. A low score is reassuring but not a guarantee, and a high score needs a biopsy to find out what the area is.
What is the difference between a bi-parametric and a multi-parametric prostate MRI?
A bi-parametric scan (bpMRI) uses two types of image and needs no contrast. A multi-parametric scan (mpMRI) adds a third set of images taken after contrast dye is injected into a vein. The contrast scan takes longer and costs more. Urologists sometimes prefer mpMRI, particularly when a previous scan was unclear. Ask the person advising you which they want before you book.
Can I refer myself for a private prostate MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral from adults. Vista Health's prostate page offers self-referral and an enquiry route, and a prostate health assessment that combines a PSA blood test with the scan. Many people start with a PSA test through their GP; if it is raised, the NHS has an urgent suspected cancer route. Ask your GP how long that route is taking locally before deciding to pay. See self-referral.
How much does a private prostate MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health's prostate page listed £395 for a bi-parametric scan, £650 for a multi-parametric scan with contrast, and £695 for the scan with a PSA test. On the same day its general MRI price list showed different figures for the same two scans, so ask the centre which price applies to you. Hospital groups price prostate MRI separately from a standard one-part scan, so treat their one-part guide prices in the table as a floor, not a quote.
What happens during a prostate MRI?
You lie on your back with a coil over your lower abdomen. Some centres give an injection to reduce bowel movement or ask you to empty your bowel first, and some ask you to avoid ejaculation for a few days beforehand. Follow the centre's own instructions. The scan takes about 20 to 45 minutes depending on the type. If contrast is used, a small needle goes into a vein in your arm.
Who explains the result?
A consultant radiologist writes the report with a PI-RADS score. You will need a urologist or GP to explain what it means and whether you need a biopsy. Ask before booking whether the centre sends the report to your GP and whether a follow-up consultation is included.
Private prostate 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 prostate MRI without a GP?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral from adults, such as Vista Health. Many people start with a PSA test through their GP.
How much does a private prostate MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health's prostate page listed £395 bi-parametric and £650 multi-parametric. Its general price list showed different figures the same day, so ask which applies.
Can a prostate MRI rule out cancer?
No. It helps decide whether a biopsy is needed and where. Only a biopsy can confirm what an area is.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.