Waiting for Your Scan Results Should Not Mean
Waiting in the Dark
Millions of patients are currently waiting for NHS diagnostic imaging, for their results, or both. Doctorum was founded by consultant radiologists who see this pressure every day - and wanted to offer a direct route to specialist expertise for patients who cannot wait.
7.22m
people on NHS treatment waiting lists1
1.8m
waiting for a diagnostic test2
976,000
scan reports delayed beyond 28 days in 2024 - worst on record3
29%
shortfall of consultant radiologists in England4
Understanding the NHS Imaging Backlog
The NHS is one of the most valued institutions in the country, and its clinical staff work under extraordinary pressure every day. The diagnostic imaging backlog is not a reflection of the dedication of NHS radiologists - it is the product of a structural workforce gap that has widened for years.
The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) 2024 Workforce Census found that demand for CT and MRI scans is growing at more than twice the rate of workforce growth, with a 29% national shortfall of consultant radiologists in England projected to reach 39% by 2029 without intervention.4 A separate RCR analysis found that in 2024, 976,000 scan reports - including 434,000 CT and MRI reports - took longer than 28 days to be written. The RCR described this as the worst performance on record.3
These are not abstract numbers. Behind each one is a person waiting to understand what is happening inside their body - whether that is a possible diagnosis, a cancer staging result, or simply the reassurance that something does not need treatment.
As of early 2026, approximately 1.8 million people were waiting for a diagnostic test in England, with around 447,000 - more than one in four - waiting over six weeks. The NHS has not met the six-week diagnostic standard since November 2013.2,5
The scale of the challenge is now formally acknowledged at the highest level. The government's 10-Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, commits to restoring the NHS constitutional standard of 92% of patients beginning elective treatment within 18 weeks by 2029 - and has identified diagnostic imaging as an early priority for investment and technology deployment.6
There Are Two Separate Waits in the Imaging Pathway
Many patients are unaware that the wait for a scan and the wait for the report are entirely separate - and both have grown significantly.
Wait 1 - for the scan itself
Once referred, patients may wait weeks or months before their MRI, CT or ultrasound is physically performed. This varies significantly by trust, region and modality, and in some areas extends well beyond the six-week constitutional standard.
Wait 2 - for the report
Even after the scan is performed, patients often face a further wait for a consultant radiologist to write the formal report. In 2024, 976,000 scans exceeded the 28-day reporting target - the highest number ever recorded.3 This second wait is a separate and often overlooked source of anxiety for patients.
How Doctorum fits in: Doctorum provides expert reporting on scans that have already been performed - whether on the NHS, at a private clinic, or elsewhere. If you have had a scan and are still waiting for the results, or want an independent view on a report you have received, Doctorum can help.
How Doctorum Can Help
A note from our founders
Doctorum is a company owned and run by experienced NHS consultant radiologists. We built it because we see the pressures on diagnostic services every day from the inside - and we believe patients deserve timely access to specialist expertise. We are not a large commercial teleradiology operation. We are a team of specialists who genuinely care about each patient whose scan we report. Doctorum is not here to replace the NHS. It is here to help patients who are waiting, and who need answers now.
Results usually within 24-48 hours
Once we receive your scan images, your formal written report is delivered within 24-48 hours by a UK GMC-registered consultant radiologist with sub-specialty expertise in the relevant area.
Your NHS care is unaffected
A Doctorum report is entirely independent of your NHS pathway. Your NHS referral, appointment and treatment plan remain exactly as they were. Many patients find that having information from their Doctorum report helps them have more informed conversations with their NHS team.
No GP referral required
You can request a report directly - no GP referral or clinical intermediary is needed. If you have scan images from an NHS hospital, a private clinic or a CD at home, you can proceed immediately.
We help you get your images
Not sure how to obtain a copy of your scan? You are legally entitled to your images under UK GDPR. We can guide you through the process of requesting your DICOM files from any NHS trust or imaging centre in the UK. We can also assist with any DICOM images using WhatsApp, Dropbox, OneDrive & Google Drive transfers - just ask us.
Read our step-by-step guide to requesting your scan imagesOur Reporting Services
Fixed-price reports from UK consultant radiologists, delivered within 24-48 hours. No GP referral needed.
MRI Reporting
£200*Brain, spine, MSK, cardiac and body MRI.
CT Reporting
£200*Head, chest, abdomen, CT angiography and more.
Mammography
£200*Screening, diagnostic and tomosynthesis (3D).
Nuclear Medicine & PET CT
£200*PET CT, SPECT and nuclear medicine studies.
Ultrasound Reporting
£95*Abdominal, pelvic, thyroid, vascular and more.
X-Ray Reporting
£95*Chest, musculoskeletal and plain film X-rays.
Second Opinion Service
Independent specialist review of an existing report - from £95*
Find Out More* Includes a formal written report and one round of responses to a reasonable number of follow-up questions submitted by email. Prices are correct at the time of publication.
Common Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often from patients navigating NHS waiting times.
Will getting a private report affect my NHS care?
No. A Doctorum report is entirely independent of your NHS referral and does not affect your NHS care in any way. You retain your NHS appointment and pathway exactly as before. Many patients find that having the information from their Doctorum report helps them have more informed conversations with their NHS team.
Can I share my Doctorum report with my NHS consultant or GP?
Yes, absolutely. Doctorum reports are formal consultant radiologist reports, written to the same clinical standard as any NHS or private hospital report. They are suitable for sharing with your GP, NHS consultant, insurer or any other clinician involved in your care.
How do I get a copy of my NHS scan images?
You are legally entitled to a copy of your scan images under the UK GDPR Subject Access Request (SAR) process. In practice, the most direct route is to contact the imaging department at the hospital or clinic where your scan was performed and ask for your images on CD or via secure digital transfer. We can advise you on exactly what to request and the wording to use - just get in touch with us first. However, Trusts usually take a minimum of 28 days and often longer to send your images. For a fixed fee of £50, Doctorum can retrieve your scan or X-ray and make it available for you to download securely from our patient portal.
Read our full step-by-step guideWhat if my scan has already been reported by the NHS?
If you have received an NHS report but want an independent specialist view - perhaps the findings were unclear, the report raised concerns you would like a second opinion on, or you would simply like reassurance - Doctorum's second opinion service is available from £95*. An independent review by a superspecialist consultant can provide additional clarity or peace of mind.
Are Doctorum radiologists the same standard as NHS radiologists?
Yes. All Doctorum reports are produced by UK GMC-registered consultant radiologists with at least 15 years of experience and sub-specialty expertise in the relevant imaging area. Many also practise within the NHS and Doctorum does not send scans abroad to non GMC-registered radiologists including hubs in the Middle and Far East. The clinical standard of a Doctorum report is identical to that of any NHS or private hospital report - the difference is the turnaround time.
Do I need a GP referral to use Doctorum?
No GP referral is required. You can contact Doctorum directly. If you already have scan images - whether from an NHS hospital, a private clinic, or a CD you have at home - you can proceed immediately.
* Includes a formal written report and one round of responses to a reasonable number of follow-up questions submitted by email. Prices are correct at the time of publication.
You do not have to wait months for answers.
Get in touch with our team today. Reports delivered within 24-48 hours, fixed price, no GP referral required.
Sources
- NHS England. RTT Waiting Times Data 2025-26, February 2026 data. Published April 2026. Available at: england.nhs.uk
- NHS England / Nuffield Trust. Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity, January 2026. Available at: nuffieldtrust.org.uk
- Royal College of Radiologists. Radiology delays worst on record despite spend on private providers soaring. Published May 2025. Available at: rcr.ac.uk
- Royal College of Radiologists. 2024 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census. Published June 2025. Available at: rcr.ac.uk
- NHS England / Nuffield Trust. Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity, January 2026. Available at: england.nhs.uk
- Department of Health and Social Care / NHS England. Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England. Published July 2025. Available at: gov.uk
Statistics reflect publicly available data published as of early 2026. NHS waiting time figures are updated monthly by NHS England.