Millions of people in the UK are currently waiting for NHS services, even for urgent cases. It can be a stressful and frustrating experience for those concerned about their health, which has led many patients to seek private medical services to speed up the process.
While private services are paid-for, unlike the NHS which is free at the point of use, patients can often get results and treatments in a fraction of the time it would take through an NHS service. Plus, when it comes to things like medical imaging, scans and tests, some people believe it’s worth the cost for peace of mind and faster treatment.
Patients in need of diagnostic imaging, such as MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray, can access services through Scan.com at over 200 clinics nationwide. There’s no referral required and no waiting list, with appointments available in as little as 24-72 hours, with services provided by a network of trusted clinics and experienced radiologists.
Through Scan.com, patients can access a private X-Ray from £95, an MRI scan from £305, a CT scan from £360, an ultrasound from £80-£180, along with a host of other services such as mammograms, echocardiograms, prostate screening and more.
After the service, they’ll get fast digital results which are easily sharable with GPs and consultants – whether NHS or private – and there’s often the option to request copies of their images as required. Scan.com services are available in clinics nationwide, from Bath to Birmingham, Cheltenham to Colchester.
Vista Health is another option which offers Private MRI Services, with prices quoted online as starting at £249 for a MRI Scan, and an ultrasound starting at £175. Customers get reports and images from appointments, where relevant. They have locations in London, Liverpool, Scotland and more.
Elsewhere, HCA Healthcare UK is another provider offering private MRI scans and services. They have access across London, Birmingham and Manchester, and say appointments can be booked in as little as 24 hours. Their prices can be provided when customers call to enquire about services.
However, users of Scan.com have said it’s given them vital peace of mind and answers when they need them most. Penny, 67, from Lincolnshire said: “It was worth the fee to get the diagnosis I needed. What could be more important than your health? And if I hadn’t taken the decision to get my scan, my condition could have deteriorated further and I could be in a lot of trouble in a few years’ time. I wasn’t taken seriously by my GP, but passing my scan results on, I was finally taken seriously and now I’m receiving the treatment that I actually need.”
Robert, who got an MRI through Scan.com, added: “I hoped to get a scan on the NHS. They put me down as urgent, and I asked how long it would be before I was able to see somebody, and they said probably about a month. So that’s when I started looking to find a private scan somehow. I Googled private scans, and Scan.com came up. Now I think it’s brilliant because it takes away that waiting and stress. If I hadn’t used Scan.com, if I hadn’t got my own private scan, I could well have died. I’m very glad I did it.”
Another reviewer wrote on Trustpilot: “The whole process was smooth and convenient. I was able to get a scan at a place and date of my choice, the results arrived on the next working day, and the interactive report explained any unfamiliar terms. I would use Scan.com again.”
However, some users found the service wasn’t all that they’d hoped. One reviewer said: “Super efficient initial call to set up appointment. Scan facilities are good. A little disappointed with the very brief call from Radiologist to run through the findings. A think a little more time with the consultant at the end could make all the difference.”
Another said: “Rapid availability of scan slots, although it would have been nice to have a slightly more extensive consultation either before or after the imaging. I also haven’t had an acknowledgement to my email requesting my images yet.”
Find out more and book scans at Scan.com.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
