Preparing for an ultrasound scan
If this is your first visit to the ultrasound clinic then you may want to take a look at our handy guide on how to prepare for your scan. Don't forget the team are there for you should you have any questions or concerns.
Download Preparing for an Ultrasound Scan
Refer your patients to us
Our Ultrasound Clinic offers a high quality ultrasound service to healthcare professionals in a number of ultrasound applications. The prices reflect the AECC University College commitment to the provision of training for healthcare professionals.
Download Referral Form
Why choose Ultrasound?
Ultrasound images complement other forms of scans, such as X-ray images as they give a clearer picture of soft tissue muscle that don't show up as well on x-ray images.
Ultrasound scans are widely used for many different parts of the body. Most commonly used to study a developing fetus/baby, ultrasound scans can also be used to study a person's abdominal and pelvic organs, muscles and tendons.
Scans can also be used to study blood flow and to detect any narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, for example, in the neck.
The majority of ultrasound scans are noninvasive (no needles or injections). They are also
safer than other diagnostic techniques such as x-rays and CT scans as patients will not be exposed to ionizing radiation.
Pregnancy Ultrasound
Private early ultrasound scans are carried out to accurately date early pregnancy. We recommend pregnant ladies to attend between 8-12 weeks.
Our 4-D pregnancy ultrasound scan provides life-like moving images of the baby. Capturing 3-D pictures of the baby and its movements (4-D element), providing a comforting insight into the baby's living environment.
The ideal time to perform the 4-D scan is during the 24th – 28th week. This is in order to obtain optimal image quality. If the scan is performed earlier than this, babies lack the fat beneath their skin so their facial characteristics will appear quite bony, very different to their appearance at birth.
If the scan is performed later in the pregnancy, the amount of space your baby has to move becomes more restricted as they increase in size, and as they begin their descent into the pelvis views of their face may become restricted.
How do I book a pregnancy scan
1. The patient will need to inform their GPs/midwives that they are contemplating having a 4-D scan or early pregnancy scan and receive a letter of approval to bring with them to the ultrasound clinic.
2. Healthcare professional or patient books the appointment with us.
3. On arrival at the ultrasound clinic the patient will present their letter of approval and be invited to sign a consent form.
Any questions
If you do have any questions please don't hesitate to give us a call, we are here to help.
Call: 01202 436 503
Payment on arrival
The prices are low to reflect the clinic's commitment to the provision of training for healthcare professionals in medical ultrasound. Your ultrasound scan will be carried out by highly trained Sonographers, a student will not carry out the scan but maybe present. Unless of course you specify otherwise when your appointment is booked.
Ultrasound Guided Injections
A patient can be referred for an ultrasound guided injection. This procedure relieves pain in patients presenting with acute or chronic pain symptoms. They are safe and simple to carry out; very rarely do they cause a reaction. A steroid injection is administered into the area of interest i.e. where the pain symptoms occur under ultrasound guidance thus reducing inflammation. There is very little preparation to be carried out; patients are advised to continue to take their prescribed medication. Unless they have been advised not to by their referring healthcare professional.
How long does the procedure take?
Following a short scan to localise the area of interest and then the guided injection, the procedure will take between 20 - 30 minutes. . After the injection the patient may be asked to wait in the rest area to allow the patient to get over possible effect of the injection such as discomfort in the joint and possible bruising. Steroids may cause some swelling in the area of the injection but this does not last very long; in case of persistence our advice is to use an ice-pack.
Get in Touch
Want to know more about our Ultrasound scanner and services, or need to ask a question? Get in touch today.
Call: 01202 436 503
Or leave us a message over at our Ultrasound Clinic page.
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