What is an Ultrasound scan?
An ultrasound scan is primarily used to examine the inside of a patient’s body in order to identify and diagnose any possible conditions or abnormalities. The scanner uses high-frequency sound waves to produce internal images of the body, utilizing a similar technology to that of a ship’s sonar system. Images taken can be displayed on a monitor and later stored electronically.
Ultrasound Procedures that we offer:
Abdo or Abdominal Scan – assessment of the aorta, biliary tract, gallbladder, inferior vena cava, kidneys, liver, pancreas, retroperitoneum, and spleen.
Transabdominal or Pelvic Scan – It is performed to examine the female pelvis, including the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tube, and ovaries.
Transvaginal – This is a female internal exam where a small probe is inserted into the lower part of your vagina; it is performed to examine your womb, ovaries and surrounding structures.
Transrectal – This is an internal exam where a small probe is inserted into your behind; it is performed to examine your prostate or to take a sample of the tissue from your prostate gland.
Testes or Testicular Scan – This is a male exam which is performed to examine the testicles and the surrounding tissues in your scrotum.
Why might you need an Ultrasound?
- Post-injury investigation
- Unidentified pain in the abdomen
- Investigation of prostate or genitalia-related issues
- Examination of breast lump
- Joint inflammation (synovitis)
- Thyroid gland inspection
This is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure and would like more information, give us a call, our team are expert and are always happy to help.
Why Use Beacon for Private Ultrasound?
- Our private ultrasound service is undertaken by fully accredited, U.K trained sonographers, ensuring our patients receive the highest quality of care from field-leading healthcare professionals.
- Our Ultrasound service boasts our highest levels of patient satisfaction.100% of past patients stated they were either very likely or likely to recommend this service to a friend or family member.
- Appointments are provided within 48 hours or at a date and time most convenient for you.
Do you have to make any preparations before your appointment?
There are some area-specific pre-examination preparation requests which will assist your sonographer in attaining the most accurate scan results. You must follow any / all preparation instructions given to you by a member of our advisory team prior to your appointment. Some examples would be:
- Arrive at your appointment in loose-fitted clothing, allowing for easier access to the area being scanned. You may be asked to change into a gown if the care team deem it necessary.
- For an abdominal scan, you may be asked to fast for at least 6 hours prior to the examination. During this fast, you can continue to drink, but only plain, clear fluids such as water, black tea or black coffee. If you are diabetic, you may have dry toast/crackers during the 6 hours if you feel hungry.
- For Kidney/ Pelvis/ Prostate scans, you will be required to drink approximately 1-1.5 litres of still water. This will have to be consumed 1 hour prior to your appointment; once you have drunk the adequate amount, please refrain from using the toilet as these scans require a full bladder.
This information is a guide on the types of preparation requests you may be asked to undertake – always follow the advice specifically provided to you by our care team. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Contacting us
Please fill out a form on the contact page, and we will be in touch as soon as possible to organise your appointment.
Frequently asked questions can be found below; however, if you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us by our website, email, or phone.
WHAT PATIENTS SAY ABOUT OUR ULTRASOUND DEPARTMENT
Dr Sussie helped me with my measles, and I was fine within weeks. She’s really great and she’s my favourite doctor!
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JOHN, 6 years
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STEVE, 6.5 years
FAQs
- WHAT IS AN ULTRASOUND?
- WHAT TYPES OF SCANS ARE THERE?
- HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY ULTRASOUND SCAN?
- WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ULTRASOUND?
- ARE THEIR ANY RISKS OR SIDE EFFECTS?
- HOW DO I BOOK AN ULTRASOUND SCAN?
- HOW MUCH ARE ULTRASOUND SCANS?
An ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of the body. There are many uses for ultrasound scans including monitoring an unborn baby, diagnosing a condition, or used during procedures to guide surgeons.
During the procedure an ultrasound probe is used, this is passed over different areas of the body and emit sound waves. The sound waves then bounce off different parts of the body and produce ‘echoes’ which are received by the probe and turned into a moving image. The image is then displayed on a monitor whilst the scan is carried out.
There are many different types of ultrasound scans we perform including:
Abdo or Abdominal Scan – It is performed to examine internal organs i.e: liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and bladder.
Transabdominal or Pelvic Scan – It is performed to examine the female pelvis including the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tube and ovaries.
Transvaginal – This is a female internal exam where a small probe is inserted into the lower part of your vagina, it is performed to examine your womb, ovaries and surrounding structures.
Transrectal: This is an internal exam where a small probe is inserted into your behind, it is performed to examine your prostate, or to take sample of the tissue from your prostate gland.
Testes or Testicular Scan – This is a male exam which is performed to examine the testicles and the surrounding tissues in your scrotum
For some scans you will need to prepare before your appointment. Most often you will be required to have a full bladder which means you have to drink a lot of water. As each scan has different requirements you will be given full, clear preparation instructions prior to your appointment.
Your appointment usually takes 20 – 45 minutes dependant on the type of scan. You will arrive at our clinic based in Parkway House, Palatine Road, Northenden, M22 4DB where our receptionist will book you in. Our Health Care Assistant will escort you to our Ultrasound room where you will meet your Sonographer, the Sonographer will explain what the scan involves and confirm your consent to proceed. If necessary, you may be asked to change into a gown in order to allow access to the area to be scanned. If at any stage, you feel uncomfortable we can stop the scan.
If the scan is unable to be performed for reasons such as obstructive gas or your bladder is not full enough, we will try to rebook you later in the day to give you time to drink more water. If this is inconvenient for you or we are still unable to get clear views we can rearrange this for a more suitable day. After your scan you will be advised that a report will be written up and sent to your GP within 5 working days.
To date there are no known risks from the sound waves used in an Ultrasound scan. Unlike X-Rays, Ultrasound does not involve exposure to radiation.
External and internal ultrasound scans are generally painless, although you may experience discomfort as the probe is pressed over your skin, inserted into your body or discomfort with a full bladder.
To book an Ultrasound scan you first need to obtain a referral from your doctor; this will state your symptoms, the type of scan that is clinically indicated and potential predictions. We will also require a copy of your recent medical history, including current medication and allergies, you can get a copy of this from your doctor at the same time as receiving your referral or you can complete a ‘Consent to Access Medical Records’ form so we can obtain this information on your behalf.
Once you have this information you can ring or email us to enquire about an appointment. Once we have arranged to receive your referral and medical history by post, hand-delivered or email your referral will be passed to our sonographer who will identify which scan is best for you. One of our administrators will contact you to discuss the recommended scan and detail the pricing. If you are happy to proceed, we will arrange an appointment time that’s best for you.
There is a minimum of 50% of the procedure cost to be paid up front, this can be done on the phone, by bank transfer or if you prefer, by cash in person. If you are paying by cash this must be paid within 24 hours of the appointment booking to secure your time slot, if you do not make the payment within the 24 hours or have contacted our staff to notify them of any reasonable delays, your appointment time may be offered to other patients.
Prices vary depending on the type of scan being performed. An abdominal ultrasound scan has a starting price of £120.00, however to get an accurate pricing for your scan please contact the office.
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