What Should You Ask Before Paying for a Private Scan?
Before paying for any private scan, ask what the total price covers, whether a specialist report is included, who will interpret the images, whether you need a referral, and how the results will be shared with you and your clinician. These questions protect you from surprise charges and ensure the scan is genuinely useful.
Key takeaways
- Always confirm whether the report, images and any follow-up consultation are included in the price.
- Check that the clinic is registered with the CQC and that a qualified radiologist or reporting radiographer will interpret your scan.
- Ask whether you need a GP or consultant referral, or whether the clinic accepts self-referrals.
- Find out how your images and report will be shared with you and your own clinician.
- For bone and joint alignment, a standing scan can reveal problems that a lying-down scan may miss.
Choosing to pay for a private scan is a significant decision. You want clear answers, not unexpected bills. Yet many people book without knowing exactly what they are paying for, and only discover gaps afterwards. This page gives you a straightforward checklist of questions to ask before a private scan, so you can compare clinics with confidence and get the most from your investment.
What questions should you ask a private imaging clinic?
The questions below cover the areas where patients are most often caught out. Ask every one before you book.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What is the total price, including the report? | Some clinics advertise a scan fee but charge extra for the written report. You need one number that covers everything. |
| Is the report written by a consultant radiologist or a reporting radiographer? | A qualified specialist should interpret your images. Ask who they are and what their qualifications are. |
| Do I need a referral from my GP or consultant? | Some clinics require a referral letter. Others accept self-referrals. Knowing this avoids a wasted appointment. |
| Is the clinic registered with the CQC? | In England, diagnostic imaging providers should be registered with the Care Quality Commission. This confirms the clinic meets national safety and quality standards. |
| How will I receive my images and report? | You may need to share results with your GP, surgeon or physiotherapist. Ask whether you get a digital copy, a printed report, or both. |
| Is there a follow-up consultation included? | A scan is only useful if someone explains what it shows. Find out whether the price includes a consultation to talk through your results. |
| What is the cancellation policy? | Life happens. Know whether you can reschedule and whether there is a cancellation charge. |
| Will the scan be done standing up or lying down? | For bone, joint and alignment problems, a standing scan shows your body under real weight-bearing conditions. A lying-down scan relaxes the muscles and may hide the issue. |
Is the report included in a private scan price?
Not always. Some clinics charge a separate fee for the written report, which can come as a surprise after the scan is done. Always confirm before you pay that the total cost includes a full specialist report, not just the images themselves.
The report is arguably the most important part. It is the specialist's interpretation of what the images show, written in a way your GP or consultant can act on. Without it, you have pictures but no clinical explanation.
Ask specifically who writes the report. In UK private imaging, this should be a consultant radiologist or a qualified reporting radiographer. You are entitled to know their name and credentials.
At ScanAlign, you can see what our price includes before you book. We believe the total cost should always be transparent.
Why does it matter whether a scan is done standing up or lying down?
It matters because your skeleton behaves differently under gravity. When you lie down for a conventional X-ray, CT or MRI, your muscles relax and your spine, pelvis and legs settle into a position they are never in during everyday life. Alignment problems that cause your pain while standing or walking can simply disappear on a lying-down image.
Your body is a connected chain from your feet to your head. A tilt in the pelvis can change the curve of your spine. A difference in leg length can shift your hips. Pain often shows up in a different place from the underlying cause, because one area compensates for another. A standing, whole-body image captures this full chain under real weight-bearing conditions, so your clinician can see the true picture.
EOS is a low-dose standing X-ray system. It captures your full skeleton from head to feet in a single image, using about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This makes it well suited for assessing alignment and planning treatment when your problem involves posture, joints or the way your weight is distributed.
Learn more about ScanAlign, private standing imaging in London.
When MRI is the better choice. EOS shows bones, joints and alignment beautifully. But for soft tissue, discs, nerves, ligaments or cartilage, MRI is usually the better tool. The right scan depends on the right question. If you are unsure which you need, a good clinic will help you decide before you pay.
Frequently asked questions about choosing a private scan
At a minimum, the price should cover the scan itself, a written report from a qualified specialist, and a way for you to receive your images. Some clinics also include a follow-up consultation. Always ask for a single total figure before you commit.
It depends on the clinic. Some require a referral letter from a GP or consultant. Others, including ScanAlign, accept self-referrals, so you can book directly without seeing your GP first.
Check that the clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England. You can search the CQC website for its registration. Also ask about radiation dose, equipment maintenance and who will perform the scan.
This varies between clinics. Some include the report in the scan fee, while others charge a separate reporting fee. Always confirm this before paying. The report is essential, as it is the specialist interpretation your clinician will use.
EOS is a low-dose X-ray system that images your full skeleton while you stand. Standing matters because your bones and joints sit differently under gravity compared to lying down. This gives a much more accurate picture of your real alignment.
An EOS scan uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This makes it one of the lowest-dose skeletal imaging options available.
Yes. Ask the clinic how they share images. Most will provide a digital copy or send the images directly to your consultant or GP. At ScanAlign, your report and images can be shared with any clinician you choose.
A normal X-ray typically images one area while you stand or lie on a table. EOS captures your entire skeleton from head to feet in one standing image, with much less radiation. It also produces a 3D model of your skeletal alignment that a standard X-ray cannot provide.
Prices vary by scan type, clinic and what is included. For ScanAlign pricing, visit our frequently asked questions page. We recommend always comparing the total cost, including the report, rather than the headline scan fee alone.
It depends on what your clinician needs to see. EOS is ideal for bones, joints and full-body alignment. MRI is better for soft tissue, discs, nerves and ligaments. If you are unsure, a consultation before booking can help you choose the right scan.
Not sure which scan you need?
Talk to a specialist radiographer first. We will help you work out whether a standing alignment scan is the right next step, with no obligation.
Book a free video consultationWritten by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
Sources
- Care Quality Commission. Registration of diagnostic imaging services. cqc.org.uk
- The Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for the reporting and interpretation of imaging investigations (2nd ed., 2018). rcr.ac.uk
- Deschênes S, Charron G, Beaudoin G, et al. Diagnostic imaging of spinal deformities: reducing patients' radiation dose with a new slot-scanning X-ray imager. Spine. 2010;35(9):989-994.
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.