Radiology

Each medical imaging technique plays a slightly different but equally important role in the diagnosis of disease and trauma.

X-Ray

X-Rays are used in the diagnosis of injury and pathology of the human skeleton and also the soft tissues of the chest or abdomen or to identify foreign bodies. They are often also used in conjunction with other imaging such as ultrasound, CT, and nuclear medicine.

All x-rays are appointment based except trauma and cancer referrals, and our booking team will co-ordinate your appointment at the most appropriate site based upon clinical urgency.

Please make sure that if you have been referred to ULHT for an x-ray from your GP that you bring your request card with you and please make sure that it has been fully completed before attending, as we may not be able to accept incomplete requests.

When you present for your imaging, please make sure we have your correct details on our systems, if you have moved or are moving in the near future please let us know and we will update our system as we may be required to send you an appointment in the future.

For disabled access information about the x-ray department at Lincoln County Hospital, please see our AccessAble accessibility guide.

For disabled access information about the x-ray department at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston please see our AccessAble accessibility guide.

For disabled access information about the x-ray department at Grantham and District Hospital, please see our AccessAble accessibility guide.

ULHT open access hours for GP/OPD referrals for x-rays

CT

Computed tomography (CT) also uses x-ray radiation and enables the acquisition of large volumes of fine detail data (slices) through all body areas within a minimum time frame. This data can then be reconstructed in various planes and enable 3D reconstruction and image manipulation during the reporting process. This imaging technique (modality) provides significantly more information than a plain x-ray does, but this is offset by a higher radiation dose.

We provide a wide range of CT studies across all our sites, however not all CT studies can be provided on all our sites, therefore in some circumstances you may be asked to attend a site other than your nearest hospital e.g. Virtual Colonoscopy or Cardiac CT studies.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses strong magnetic forces and radio waves to provide cross sectional imaging without the use of ionising radiation.

MRI safety points for consideration:

• Contraindications to the use of MRI include metallic foreign bodies in the orbits, aneurysm clips, pacemakers and cochlear implants. Prior to your appointment you will be given a questionnaire to complete regards recent surgery, medical history etc in order to ascertain whether there are any contraindications to you having an MRI scan.
• The safety of MRI during the first trimester of pregnancy is uncertain. However, it may well be safer than some of the alternative options. All imaging of pregnant women should be discussed with the radiology department.

For disabled access information about the MRI department at Grantham and District Hospital, please see our AccessAble accessibility guide.

For disabled access information about the MRI department at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston please see our AccessAble accessibility guide.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to image the anatomical structures of the body. The absence of ionising radiation and the flexibility in imaging technique makes ultrasound (US) the primary investigation for a range of clinical conditions, and the absence of radiation also makes it the imaging modality of choice for obstetric imaging.

Some types of examinations are highly specialised and may not be provided at every site across ULH, in these circumstances you may be asked to attend an alternative site e.g. MSK Ultrasound.

Ultrasound is a highly skilled imaging technique that that is operator dependent and as such the Sonographers require a quiet environment in which they can concentrate fully on your scan. Therefore we would like to advise our patients that ordinarily we do not allow relatives or companions (especially children) to accompany you into the scan room; although we can make exceptions in certain circumstances if it would assist in the success of the examination.

Fluoroscopy/interventional radiology

Dynamic fluoroscopic studies of the Gastrointestinal (GI) and Genitourinary (GU) tract are provided demonstrating anatomy pathology and function of these systems. A full range of image-guided intervention and treatment are provided, e.g. biopsies, embolisation, steroid injections, line insertions as well as vascular procedures. We are not able to provide the full range of services on each site across the Trust, therefore you may be asked to attend an alternative site to your nearest hospital.

Appointments for CT, MRI, ultrasound and other examinations

We aim to provide our patients with an effective and efficient service, in the interests of offering you the soonest possible appointment we may offer you the next available appointment at any of our sites, it is up to personal choice as to whether you would like to accept this appointment or choose to attend at the site most convenient to you.

We would also like to make our patients aware that we do not offer all examinations at all sites, and it may be that for certain examinations we are only able to offer an appointment at a certain site.

We would also like to assure our patients that we offer the same high quality imaging experience within all our departments.

If you need to amend your allotted appointment please contact the appointments teams as soon as possible. The contact numbers are provided below. Due to the high volume of work we provide, it may not always be possible for us to give you the exact time and date you request.

In order to prevent delays it is imperative that you make us aware of any changes in circumstance such as planned holidays, change of address or personal details.

If you fail to attend your appointment without notifying the relevant department beforehand, your imaging request may be returned to your referrer (consultant/GP etc.), where possible we will provide you with an alternative appointment slot.

If you cancel/amend your appointment our aim is to provide you with an alternative date as close to the original as possible or within 14 working days of the original appointment slot. Due to the oversubscription of our imaging techniques (modalities) this may not always be possible.

How to contact radiology at ULHT

Leaflets

• CT Colonogram
• Deep (inpatient) percutaneous image guided biopsy
• CT Colonogram Aftercare
• Superficial (outpatient) Ultrasound Guided PercutaneousBiopsy
• Insertion of an inferior vena cava filter placement
• varicolele embolisation
• Fistulogram, fistuloplasty and venoplasty