Private MRI scans in Maidstone
Kent's county town grew up on the River Medway, and its borough stretches from Bearsted and Boxley below the North Downs south to Marden, Headcorn and Staplehurst in the Weald. Getting about tends to mean the M20 and A229, or a train from Maidstone East or Maidstone West. A private MRI scan produces detailed images of soft tissue, which makes it useful for checking a painful shoulder, a disc problem in the lower back or unexplained numbness.
Maidstone private MRI scan costs
The starting price for a private MRI scan is £200. That fee covers a consultation with one of our clinicians plus the referral you need. Run a search from Maidstone to see what the centres closest to you charge.
How do I book a private MRI scan in Maidstone?
You won't need a GP referral. Type in your postcode, or browse the map, and line up the centres that suit you on price and location. Once you've picked one, fill in a short booking form with a few safety questions, then pay online. We take it from there, arranging your appointment and getting your results back to you.
Why book with us?
Scan.com is the UK's largest medical imaging network, giving you quick access to a variety of scans at hundreds of locations nationwide, with no referral required. Booking online takes minutes. You'll speak to a clinician within hours and have your scan within days. Because there are no waiting lists, you decide when and where you're scanned. Your results arrive digitally, ready to share with your healthcare professional.
Preparation for MRI scans
MRI scans generally need very little preparation, although occasionally you may be asked to fast for a period beforehand. On the day, wear soft, comfortable clothing without metal fastenings such as buttons, toggles or zips. You might also be asked to change into a hospital gown. The strong magnets inside an MRI scanner interact with metal. For that reason, you'll need to take off glasses, jewellery, watches and belts, and remove wallets, phones and other personal items. If you have an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker, extra preparation may be needed to keep you safe. We'll give you all the instructions before your scan. If your scan involves contrast, you'll need recent blood test results showing your kidney function, since your kidneys clear the gadolinium contrast agent from your body afterwards.
The procedure
Your scan will be carried out by highly trained technicians called radiographers, who explain what's going to happen before they begin. You'll lie still on a flat bed that slides in and out of the doughnut-shaped scanner. Depending on the area being scanned, this can take anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes. If you need contrast, it's given through an IV. The machine is noisy. Even so, you can usually listen to music, and the radiographers will talk to you through headphones throughout.
How long does it take?
Expect an MRI scan to last between 15 and 90 minutes. The exact time comes down to how many body areas need scanning and whether contrast injections are involved. Your clinician and your chosen imaging centre will tell you how long your own scan is likely to take.