Nottingham Ear & Scan Clinic

What is an X-ray?

An X-ray examination is a fast, safe and effective way of producing images of the inside of your body. It’s particularly useful for looking at bones, blood vessels, heart and lungs.

How does an X-ray work?

We use the term ‘X-ray’ to refer to the technology of producing X-ray images, but the rays themselves are actually a kind of electromagnetic radiation. They can’t be seen by the naked eye, but they can be detected by the X-ray machine and turned into images. Dense parts of your body such as bones appear white or light in the images, and softer parts - which the X-rays can pass through more easily - look darker.

Are X-rays safe?

X-rays are a form of radiation, but the body part that’s being examined in an X-ray session will only be exposed to a low level of radiation for a fraction of a second. It’s equivalent to a few days’ worth of the background radiation in the natural environment, and although there is a risk, it’s considered to be very small, and outweighed by the benefits of the examination.

How long will my X-ray session take?

The X-ray will be taken in just a fraction of a second. Depending on which body part is being examined, though, it may take a few minutes to prepare and position you for the X-ray, and we would ask you to attend around 10 minutes before your appointment to make sure everything is in order.

Do I need to prepare for my X-ray?

You don’t normally need to do anything to prepare for an X-ray, and you can eat, drink and take medicines as normal before your appointment.

It’s a good idea to wear loose, comfortable clothes, and avoid wearing jewellery or clothes with metal parts, including zips, as we might need to ask you to take these off.

How long does it take to get results?

After your scan, a consultant radiologist will examine your images, and compile a report of their findings.

The consultant radiologist will then send your results to our team of doctors after your scan.

Your clinician will provide a post-scan consultation call to explain the results and next steps, usually within 3 days of your scan date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at 0115 837 2252 if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Do I need a GP or Self Referral?

A key benefit of booking with Nottingham Ear & Scan Clinic is that you do not need a GP referral to access our services. There is also no self-referral process. Instead, our medical team which consists of GMC registered doctors will contact you once you have made an appointment. Our doctors will ask you for all of the relevant information they need to compile a written referral on your behalf, which is then passed on to your chosen specialist diagnostic centre.

How will I received my results?

Once you have had your scan, the specialist diagnostic centre will send your results to our clinical team. They will review the imaging report and contact you to discuss the findings and any next steps to consider.

After this, your report along with digital images will be available for download via our Patient Image Portal (PIP)

Our estimated timeframe for sharing your results is between 3-5 working days of your scan, but this varies and, in many cases, can be much quicker.

What's included in the price of my booking?

A private pre-scan consultation from one of our GMC registered doctors over the phone
A written referral by a GMC registered doctor, using the information from your consultation.
An X-Ray scan at your chosen specialist diagnostic centre.
A written report on your scan by a Consultant Radiologist.
Access to copies of your scan images, which are downloadable via PIP, as required.
A post-scan consultation with one of our GMC registered doctors to discuss your results

How long does an X-Ray Scan take?

It depends on the scan or screening you choose, but most appointments take less than 90 minutes. We ask you to arrive around 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.

Booking Policy

To secure an appointment for a private GP consultation, a non-refundable deposit of £25 is required. Unlike many providers, we do not ask for full payment for your scan at the time of booking.

If, following the consultation, the GP determines that you do not meet the clinical referral criteria, no further charges will apply.

Where a referral is made and a scan appointment is confirmed, the outstanding balance (being the full fee for the recommended scan(s), less the deposit already paid) will become immediately due.

Once an appointment has been confirmed, cancellations are not permitted under any circumstances. If you cancel or fail to attend your appointment, the full fee will be forfeited and no refund will be issued.

For more detailed information, please refer to our full Terms and Conditions.