Nerve conduction studies measure how well the nerves carry signals, used for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. At the end of June 2026, 39,637 people across England were on the waiting list for nerve conduction studies, and 43% had waited longer than the NHS’s six-week target — but where you live changes that wait dramatically, and private scans are available within days.
Where nerve conduction studies waits are longest
| NHS trust | People waiting | Waiting beyond 6 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Hospitals University | 1,824 | 85% |
| Mid and South Essex | 1,122 | 82% |
| University Hospitals Birmingham | 5,918 | 79% |
| London North West University Healthcare | 775 | 78% |
| Whittington Health | 1,251 | 75% |
| South Tees Hospitals | 799 | 73% |
| University College London Hospitals | 1,740 | 71% |
| North West Anglia | 247 | 70% |
| West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals | 286 | 64% |
| Walsall Healthcare | 485 | 59% |
| Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals | 566 | 58% |
| United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals | 1,565 | 57% |
A wait beyond six weeks for nerve conduction studies is counted as a breach of the NHS standard. In the trusts above, most patients had waited longer than that — which is exactly where going private saves the most time.
Skip the queue with private treatment
A long wait for nerve conduction studies is a wait for the answers a diagnosis brings. Private cover can have you seen by a consultant in days, not months. It will not pay for a condition you are already waiting on, so arrange it before a problem starts — compare cover, see if it is worth it, or get a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
What does going private cost for nerve conduction studies? Private hospitals publish self-pay prices and can usually book you in within days. Private medical insurance covers diagnostic tests in full when you are referred, provided the problem is not one you already have.
Why do NHS nerve conduction studies waits vary so much? Capacity, staffing and demand differ by trust, so the wait for the same test can be a few days in one place and several months in another.
Source: NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) and Diagnostics (DM01) waiting-times statistics, June 2026; self-pay figures from UK private hospitals’ own published price lists. Waiting-list figures change monthly.