How soon can you arrange a scan?

It usually takes 5-7 business days to arrange a scan. The time required depends on your location and the type of scan required such as MRI or CT scans. The less common types of scan take longer to arrange. Other factors also affect this. If special facilities are needed for claustrophobic or obese patients this may also take longer to arrange. This service is not suitable for emergency or urgent scanning as we cannot guarantee to arrange imaging at short notice.

What is included in the scan price?

The scan price includes:

  • A Medical Assessment of the need for a scan and the correct type of scan required
  • The Scan itself
  • A CD with the scan images
  • A Report on the scan from a Consultant Radiologist

The scan price does not include any after scan consultations or treatment.

How do I make payments?

You can pay online via a secure link that will be provided by our booking team. We do not accept cash/cheques or payment at the centre. Please note we also do not provide financing.

When do I pay for the scan?

After you submit the signup form or upload your own referral our booking team will send you an email with a quote and location where the requested scan could be arranged. Should you wish to proceed with the booking process you will need to make the payment. Once payment is received the booking team will email you a more detailed questionnaire where you will be able to describe in detail your symptoms. Our medical team will review this questionnaire and provide a referral for the imaging centre.

How soon are the reports available?

It usually takes 5-7 business days for the Consultant Radiologist to prepare the report and for it to be forwarded to you. Please note that members of staff at some imaging centres may tell you that the report will be available within 48 hours. However, if you are told this, please accept that this is rarely achieved. You should also be aware that the time taken for the report to be issued is outside of our control and should there be any delay you should contact the Imaging Centre.

Who studies the scan?

The scan report is prepared by a UK certified radiologist.

What is shown in the report?

The report highlights any abnormalities noted by the Radiologist for the region of the body scanned.

Do I receive a copy of my images?

Yes – but the method of supply is outside the control of Secure Scanners and depends on your imaging centre: some provide these on the day of the scan via CD ROM, others post them and yet others share an on-line link.

We recommend you ask the radiographer to attend the scan on how to obtain your images from that centre.

Can I take the report to NHS or to my consultant?

Yes, you can take the report and the CD with the images to any NHS or private GP or Consultant.

Do you do paediatric scans?

Yes, there are some locations that do paediatric scans. We recommend you contact us first before you submit a medical questionnaire.

Do you do cardiac MRI scans?

No, we currently do not provide Cardiac MRI scans. We can, however, refer you for an ECG.

How does the booking process work?

  1. Before being scanned, everyone requires a review/referral from a doctor or health practitioner. If you already have this, you can just upload it via our website or send it to us via email. Otherwise, we can organise it for you.
  2. Just fill in and submit the online signup form if you don’t already have a referral. The booking team will confirm the location where your scan could be arranged and the cost of the requested scan. They will also send you a secure payment link via which you will be able to make the payment for the scan. Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash/cheques or payment at the centre nor provide financing.
  3. Once payment is received the booking team will email you a more detailed questionnaire where you will be able to describe in detail your symptoms.
  4. Our medical team will review this questionnaire and provide a referral to the imaging centre.
  5. The imaging centre will then contact you directly to agree on a convenient day and time for your scan. As their radiographers need to review the request, it can take up to two working days before you are contacted. Should you not hear back from the imaging centre within two working days, please come back to us and we will chase this for you. Please also note that, sometimes, our medical team may recommend a change of scan, in which case you will be contacted to make alternative arrangements.an is safe, appropriate and necessary. The doctor may advise a different scan, another form of investigation or a different line of treatment.

What is an MRI scan?

MRI means magnetic resonance imaging. This scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed views of the organs, tissues and skeletal system. It is a non-invasive way to diagnose body structure and problems via high-resolution images.

When is an MRI scan performed?

  • To detect brain and spine problems like strokes, tumors, and aneurysms.
  • To measure metabolic changes in the brain.
  • To analyse disorders of the eye and inner ear.
  • To detect problems with internal organs like the liver, kidney, or pancreas.
  • To measure the size of the heart, the thickness of the heart walls and other structural changes.
  • To analyse bone and joint abnormalities, infections, and tumors in soft tissues including breast cancer.

What is a CT or CAT scan?

CT means computerised tomography. It uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body.

How is MRI Scan different from CT Scan?

  • MRI can show clearer differences between normal and abnormal tissue while CT Scans can sometimes provide more details about the hearts, lungs, pelvis, hips, reproductive systems, bladder and gastrointestinal tract.
  • MRI Scans are safe and are commonly used for preventative checks.
  • MRI Scans do not involve any radiation, while CT Scans involves radiation.
  • MRI Scans takes more time than CT Scans and are generally noisier.

What MRI Scanners are available?

  1. 1.5 Tesla MRI – These are conventional or standard MRI machines
  2. 3 Tesla MRI ( 3T MRI) – produces higher resolution images, are less noisy and are quicker than 1.5 Tesla MRI.
  3. Open Upright MRI – for claustrophobic and bariatric patients. In this MRI machine, a patient can stand or sit on a chair while having the scan.
  4. Open MRI machine – it is for Claustrophobic patients, and the patient lies down while being scanned.

What body regions can be scanned?

As well as full-body scans, the bones of the skeleton and any joint, you can scan the abdomen, adrenal glands, appendix, back, bile ducts, biliary tract, bladder, blood vessels, bowel, brain, cervix, chest, fallopian tubes, gall-bladder, head, heart, kidney, liver, lymph nodes, neck, ovaries, pancreas, pelvis, penis, prostate, scrotum, shoulders, spine, spleen, testicles, urethra, and uterus; indeed any body area. However, some scans are more specialised than others and not all areas are covered by individual imaging centres.

Are all centres certified?

All the centres we use are certified by the CQC – the Care Quality Commission, the UK’s independent regulator.

Where are your imaging centres?

We have affiliated centres across the UK and are adding centres all the time. Please see our online website map, which has details of all our locations. However, please note that not all locations offer all types of scans.

What are you most frequent MRI scan requests?

Our top MRI scan requests ranked by area are as follows:

  1. MRI scan lumbar spine – typically ordered for low back pain, arthritis or a bulging disc.
  2. MRI scan lower extremity – typically ordered for arthritis or injuries of the hip or knee.
  3. MRI scan of the brain with or without contrast – typically ordered for headaches and for neurological disorders.
  4. MRI scan upper extremity – typically ordered for arthritis or sports injuries of the shoulder or elbow.
  5. MRI scan cervical spine – typically ordered for neck pain associated with arthritis or a bulging disc.