Ultrasound

Before having some types of ultrasound scan, you may be asked to follow certain instructions to help improve the quality of the images produced. You will probably be asked to prepare for your scan by either fasting or attending with a full bladder (depending on the examination) and to wear loose fitting clothing.

This information will be provided in your appointment letter and you can find the preparation required below.

No, we do not offer pregnancy ultrasounds. Our ultrasound services focus on Non-Obstetric Ultrasound (NOUS), which means we specialise in scans that assess other areas of the body, such as the abdomen, pelvis (non-pregnancy related), musculoskeletal system, and other soft tissues.

If you are looking for a pregnancy ultrasound, we recommend speaking to your GP, midwife, or a dedicated obstetric ultrasound provider who can offer the appropriate care for you and your baby. If you need a NOUS scan, our expert team is here to provide high-quality imaging with professional and compassionate care.

If you are allergic to latex, it is important to inform our ultrasound team. In these cases, the team will use latex-free materials.

Ultrasound examinations are usually painless and easily tolerated by most patients. Most types of ultrasound examinations are completed within 15 to 30 minutes and are performed by either a Radiologist or a Sonographer.

When you arrive at our clinic for your appointment, our Sonographer and the Diagnostic Imaging Assistant will provide you with a full briefing on what will happen during your appointment.

In most cases, you will lie on a medical couch and the clinician will apply a water-based gel on the area to be scanned and then pass a small handheld probe over the skin and over the part of the body being examined.

After the ultrasound scan has been completed, the images will be reviewed by the Sonographer/Radiologist who performed the scan and a report will be produced and sent to your doctor on the same day.

There are no restrictions on normal activity, you can eat and drink normally, drive and return to work immediately after the scan.

Follow-up examinations may be necessary and recommendations may be included in your report. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a suspicious or questionable finding needs clarification with additional views or a special imaging technique.

A follow-up examination may also be necessary so that any change in a known abnormality can be monitored over time. Follow-up examinations are sometimes the best way to see if treatment is working or if an abnormality is stable over time. The report will be sent to your doctor.

The ultrasound scan takes 15 to 30 minutes during which time you may be asked to change position to allow the area to be examined from different angles.

Ultrasound scans are a simple examination; they are non-invasive and are not painful. There may be varying degrees of discomfort from pressure as the transducer is pressed against the area being examined.

For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects on humans.

The ultrasound scanner consists of a console (computer), a video display screen and a transducer (probe) that is used to scan the body.

The ultrasound scan report will be sent to your GP or referring clinician usually within 24-48 hours of the examination.

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a blood clot in a vein, usually the leg. DVTs can be dangerous and we recommend that you get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have a DVT.