Diagnostics
Waiting for CT Scan Results on the NHS: What Happens After
After a CT scan you may expect to hear quickly, especially if the scan itself only took minutes. In practice, several steps sit between the scan and anyone telling you about it. This guide explains those administrative steps and who to contact. It does not interpret results.
What happens after a CT scan
- The images are reviewed and a written report is produced.
- The report goes to the clinician who requested the CT, in hospital or at your GP practice.
- That clinician reviews it and decides the next step.
- You are told, often by letter, at a clinic appointment, by phone, or through your GP or patient portal.
Why CT results can feel slower than the scan
CT scans are often quick to perform, and some are done as part of an emergency or same-day visit. Results for planned outpatient CT scans usually follow the requesting team's normal process, which may include waiting for a follow-up appointment. That follow-up is a separate queue from the CT scanner.
If your CT was done in A&E or on a ward, the result may have been discussed with you before you left, or sent to your GP or a specialty clinic. Your discharge letter normally says which.
Who to contact
- Hospital-requested CT: the consultant's secretary or the clinic booking team.
- GP-requested CT: your GP practice.
- A&E or inpatient CT: check your discharge letter, then contact the team or GP it names.
- Ask whether the report has been received and reviewed, and how you will be told.
How long do CT results take?
We do not quote a standard time. It depends on the hospital, how urgent the request was, and how the result is communicated. If a timeframe was given when your scan was booked and it has passed, contact the requesting team.
This guide explains administrative processes only. If your symptoms change or get worse while you wait, contact your GP, NHS 111, or the clinical team named on your letter.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers first. Tap a question to read more.
Why hasn't anyone called with my CT results?
Routine results are often shared by letter, at a follow-up appointment or through your GP rather than by phone. Contact the team that requested the scan to confirm the stage.
Should I contact the CT department?
The department that performed the scan usually sends the report to the requesting clinician. The requesting team is normally the right first contact.
Does a delay mean something is wrong?
A delay tells you about the administrative queue, not the result. Do not read meaning into it either way; ask the requesting team.
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Sources & references3
Reviewed against publicly available NHS England RTT guidance and the NHS Constitution.
Editorial transparency
How this guide was put together
- Reviewed against the latest publicly available NHS England RTT statistics and guidance.
- Written and edited by the NHSWaitHelper editorial team.
- Cross-checked against the NHS Constitution and operational guidance.
- Independent — no paid hospital rankings, no hidden sponsorship.
NHSWaitHelper is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with the NHS. We do not provide medical or legal advice. Always speak to your GP, clinician, or a regulated adviser about your individual circumstances.