| 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: thoracic 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 thoracic spine MRI show?
The thoracic spine is the middle of the back: twelve vertebrae, each joined to a pair of ribs, with the discs between them and the spinal cord running through the centre. A thoracic MRI shows the vertebrae, the discs, the spinal cord and the nerves that wrap around the chest. It is ordered less often than a lower back or neck scan, because the mid back is stiffer and disc problems there are less common.
It is used for mid-back pain that is unusual or persistent, pain that wraps around the chest in a band, suspected compression fractures (for example in people with osteoporosis), and to check the spinal cord when a specialist is concerned.
When should I not wait for a private mid-back scan?
Get urgent help through NHS 111, your GP or A&E for back pain with new weakness or numbness in the legs, problems walking, new bladder or bowel problems, fever, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer. Chest pain that could be from the heart needs 999, not a spine scan.
Can I refer myself for a private thoracic 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 ask for a referral from a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist. See self-referral.
How much does a private thoracic spine MRI cost?
One spinal region is usually one area. On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £249 off-peak, £360 standard and £380 fast track. Hospital guide prices for one part were £400 to £620 at the Nuffield Health sites we checked. If you also need the neck or lower back, see whole spine, which is usually priced as several regions. Open and upright scanners are available at a few places from £575.
What happens during a thoracic MRI?
You lie on your back, head first, with the middle of your back over the coil built into the table. Your head and chest go into the scanner. Expect 20 to 30 minutes. Breathing moves the chest, so the radiographer may ask you to breathe gently and evenly.
What will the report say?
The radiologist describes each level, such as T7/8. Small disc bulges and wear are common and may not explain your pain. Take the report to your GP, physio or a spinal consultant.
What should I ask before booking?
- Is it the thoracic region only, or more than one region?
- Self-referral or a letter?
- Report time, and can I download the images?
- Does the centre offer a wider-bore or open scanner if I am anxious?
Can I get a private thoracic 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 thoracic 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 the thoracic spine the same as the mid back?
Yes. It is the part of the spine attached to the ribs, between the neck and the lower back.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.