Private MRI scans in Plymouth
Dartmoor at its back and the Sound in front, Plymouth anchors the far south west, with Saltash over the Tamar and Ivybridge and Tavistock inland. Private MRI here needs no GP referral, so the route to a scan is shorter than you might expect. MRI is what clinicians reach for when the question involves soft tissue, the spine or the nervous system.
Plymouth private MRI scan costs
Prices start from £200 for a private MRI. The Scan.com network includes a range of locations, and your clinician consultation and referral sit inside that figure rather than on top of it. Search for the scan you need and check what the nearest centres are charging.
How do I book a private MRI scan in Plymouth?
There is no GP referral to chase. Use the map, or search by postcode and scan type, and you will see centres alongside their prices. Pick the one that works, complete a short form covering your booking and safety details, then pay. Scheduling and results are handled at our end.
Why book with us?
Ours is the largest medical imaging network in the UK, spanning hundreds of locations nationwide, and none of it depends on a referral. Minutes is all the online booking takes. A clinician is in touch within hours and the scan happens within days. Because there are no waiting lists, you decide the date and the place. Your results are digital, so sharing them with your healthcare professional is straightforward.
Preparation for MRI scans
Preparation for an MRI is usually light. On occasion you may be asked to go without food or drink for a while first, but this is uncommon. Choose clothing that is soft and comfortable and carries no metal fastenings, meaning no buttons, toggles or zips; a gown may be offered instead. Metal responds to the scanner's powerful magnets, which is why glasses, jewellery, watches, belts, wallets, phones and any other personal items need to be removed beforehand. Pacemakers and other implanted devices sometimes call for extra preparation in the interests of safety. Everything you need to know is sent to you in advance of the appointment. One further requirement applies to scans involving contrast: recent blood test results confirming kidney function, since the gadolinium contrast agent is cleared from the body by the kidneys.
The procedure
Trained radiographers carry out the scan and will explain the process before anything begins. You lie on a flat bed which moves you into the doughnut-shaped scanner, and staying still matters while the images are being taken. Anything from 15 to 90 minutes is normal, set by the area under examination. IV contrast is used when the scan calls for it. Scanners are loud, though music is usually available and the radiographers talk to you through headphones from start to finish.
How long does it take?
Expect somewhere in the range of 15 to 90 minutes. The figure moves according to how many body areas need scanning and whether contrast forms part of the appointment. Confirmation of the likely duration comes from your clinician and the centre you have chosen.