Frequently Asked Questions

How can we help you today? Choose a category below to filter FAQs.

  • A key benefit of booking with Scan.com is that you do not need a GP referral to access our services. There is also no self-referral process. Instead, our in-house medical team will contact you once you have booked and made payment for your scan. Our clinicians will ask you for all of the relevant information they need to compile a referral on your behalf, which is then passed on to your chosen scanning site.

  • Once you have had your scan, your radiologist’s report will be emailed to you in PDF format, usually within 7 working days.

    Digital copies of your images are also available as required for onward care. The method for accessing the images differs depending on your chosen scanning site.

    Some sites use IEP (Image Exchange Portal), while others require an image request form to be completed. Please refer to your results email for further information.

  • If you are seeing a hospital consultant privately or through the NHS, you can email admin@uk.scan.com to arrange transfer of your report and images directly to your consultant.

    Please provide details of your hospital name, department, and consultant name.

    We cannot send results directly to GP’s, but we can provide downloadable files to you, which you can take with you when you next visit your GP.

  • The classification of MRI scanners as 3T or 1.5T relates to the strength of their magnets. 1.5T scanners have a lower magnetic field and are most commonly used in clinics. They provide accurate images for most diagnoses and body parts, and are often suitable for some patients who have certain medical implants or devices. 3T scanners have stronger magnets, and are better suited to brain, vascular, musculoskeletal and small bone system imaging in clinics. This is due to their ability to capture finer details. Read more here.

  • Open MRI scanners are designed differently to traditional scanners, and are better suited to people with claustrophobia or anxiety. Instead of lying on a flat bed that is moved into the traditional tunnel-shaped scanner, an open MRI allows you to see the room around you more clearly. It usually has magnets above and below you, rather than all around you. You can use our booking locator to find your nearest open scanner, and there is further information about MRI-related claustrophobia on our news page. Read more here.

  • After your consultation, our clinicians will refer your appointment request to our partner scanning centres. The partner centre will then contact you within 5-7 working days to confirm your appointment time. If you have been waiting for longer than 5-7 working days, please contact us.

  • After your scan, your images will be reported on by a radiologist. We will send your report digitally within 7 working days of your scan.

    Digital copies of your images can be provided. Some sites require a request form in order to send them to you - please refer to your results email for further instructions.

  • The method for downloading your images varies by scanning site. Some sites provide access to your images via IEP (Image Exchange Portal) - instructions are available here.

    Other sites require an image request form to be completed before they send your images, and information for downloading your images will be provided via email.

  • Yes, we do offer cancellations and refunds, though depending on the status of your booking this may incur a £50 cancellation fee. For more information, visit our terms and conditions.

  • If your selected scanning site provided your images to you via IEP (Image Exchange Portal), we recommend downloading them as soon as possible. If your IEP link expires (usually after 2 weeks), please contact us and we can send a new link to renew your access.

    • A pre-scan consultation from one of our medical team over the phone or via email.
    • A written referral by our medical team, using the information from your consultation.
    • An MRI scan at your chosen scanning centre.
    • A written report on your scan by a consultant radiologist.
    • Access to copies of your scan images, which are downloadable, as required.
    • A post-scan consultation with one of our medical team if there are any adverse findings in your scan.
  • Scan reports can take up to a week to reach our clinic, and we then get in touch with you to discuss your results. If you have not heard from us after 7 working days, please contact us.

  • We do not provide sedation for our MRI scans, but if you have any worries or concerns about your MRI, please do mention this to your consultant. We can also offer open MRI scans for people who struggle with claustrophobia. You can find out more about open scanners here.

  • An MRI scan on a single body part can typically take between 10-30 minutes to complete. Full-body MRI scans, additional body parts, or more complex scans can last up to 90 minutes. This time frame can vary, and your radiographer will let you know the estimated duration of your scan before the procedure starts. Visit our news page for more information on how MRI scans work.

  • Yes - MRI scanning is a painless, safe and non-invasive medical imaging technique. However, not everybody makes a suitable candidate for an MRI, e.g. people with certain medical implants. For more information, visit our news page. Read more here.

  • MRI scans themselves do not cause any side effects, but you may experience side effects if your consultant requires you to have a contrast agent for your scan. These are normally mild and subside quickly. Examples include headache, nausea and a warming sensation, and in extremely rare cases allergic reactions to contrast agents can occur. For more details on safety and contrast agents, view our news page. Read more here.

  • Some tattoo inks can contain metallic particles, which might react with the strong magnets within an MRI scanner. The risk of this happening is very low (less than 0.3%), and symptoms usually present as a tingling sensation in the skin that subsides after 24 hours. If you experience any discomfort or heat on tattooed skin during your scan, tell your radiographer immediately.

  • MRI scans are safe and suitable for most patients. If you have any medical implants or devices, metal in your body, or are in the early stages of pregnancy, an MRI scan may not always be the best option for you. For more information about MRI safety and suitability, please visit our news page. Read more here.

  • Contrast agents are substances such as Gadolinium or Iodine, which are injected or ingested to improve the quality and definition of MRI and CT images in some circumstances. Only around 1 in 3 MRI scans require contrast, and our clinical team will discuss whether it is required during your pre-scan consultation. If it is, we will ask to see recent blood test results to check your kidney function before your scan. A contrast injection has an additional cost of £150, which is chargeable after your clinician has confirmed whether it is necessary. You can find out more about contrast agents in our helpful guide.

  • Learn about how we handle complaints at Scan.com and how you can make a complaint here.

Have more questions about how our private MRI scans work?

Email the team

help@uk.scan.com

Give us a call

01277 674 889

Ask us a question