| 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 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 Leeds Hospital) | £590 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 |
| 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.
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: the body area. 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.
Who writes an MRI report?
A consultant radiologist, a doctor specialising in reading scans, looks at every image and writes a report. The report describes what they see, often level by level for the spine or structure by structure for a joint, and ends with a summary or conclusion. Some centres use radiologists with specialist interests, such as musculoskeletal, neuro or cardiac imaging, for those scans.
How long do private MRI results take?
From the pages we checked on 5 October 2026:
- Vista Health said a full written report within three working days for its standard MRI scans, and within three working days for its prostate and cardiac MRI.
- Nuffield Health's hospital pages said results are verified by a radiologist and sent to your referring healthcare professional within a week, with times varying for specialist scans. Its Manchester Diagnostic Suite said results within a few days.
- Scan.com said its estimated timeframe for results was 7 to 10 working days, varying by scanning centre and often quicker.
- Circle Health Group's MRI page said some results are given on the day of the scan, and otherwise within one week, depending on why you are having the scan.
Some centres sell faster reporting at extra cost. If time matters, ask for the reporting time in writing before you pay.
Who receives the report?
That depends on the centre and your referral. Hospital groups usually send the report to the referrer, such as your GP or consultant, rather than to you directly. Dedicated centres often send it to you and, if you agree, to your GP. Ask whether you will get the images too; many centres give access to download or share them.
What does the report not do?
It does not diagnose you on its own, and it does not decide your treatment. Reports are written for clinicians and often use technical words. Findings such as "degenerative change", "disc bulge" or "non-specific foci" are common and often normal for age. Take the report to the person treating you, a GP, physio or consultant, and ask what it means for you.
If something urgent is found, a radiologist will usually contact the referrer quickly. Ask the centre how it handles urgent findings when you self-refer.
Can I get a follow-up appointment to explain the report?
Yes, usually at extra cost. Vista Health listed a post-scan GP consultation at £50 on 5 October 2026, discounted when booked with a scan. A consultant follow-up at a private hospital costs more. If you are insured, check whether the follow-up is covered.
How long does a private MRI report take?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health said three working days, Nuffield Health within a week to your referrer, and Scan.com an estimated 7 to 10 working days.
Will I get my MRI report myself?
Often, at dedicated centres. Hospital groups usually send it to your referrer. Ask before booking.
Does the MRI report tell me what treatment I need?
No. It describes what the images show. A GP, physio or consultant decides what it means for you.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.