X-Ray and Medical Imaging

We offer a wide range of examinations (scans and x-rays) for both NHS and private patients at the request of authorised referrers (a GP, for example). We also offer some other useful services listed at the bottom of this page. We are happy to accept NHS and private referrals from outside Bedfordshire as long as they come from an authorised referrer. Please follow the link below for full details of our service for private patients and private referrers

Our Location

We are in the main hospital building next to the pharmacy department close to the Britannia Road entrance to the hospital. We also have a small x-ray department located in the Accident and Emergency department and a scanning unit in the Cygnet Wing. Most examinations are carried out in the main department and your appointment letter will give you details of where to attend.

Opening Times

We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm however, we do some examinations outside these times by special appointment.

Waiting Times

Our waiting times vary depending on the type of x-ray or scan you are waiting for and also on the demand for a particular examination. In order to meet the guidelines issued by the Department of Health we now obliged to keep our waiting lists for all examinations below six weeks. We are working very hard at the moment to get down to a maximum wait of two weeks.

Plain x-rays: zero wait (walk-in service)

Nuclear medicine: two to three weeks

Special x-rays (e.g Barium meals): two weeks

DXA scans: two weeks

CT scans: six weeks

MRI scans: six weeks

Ultrasound scans: six to eight weeks

Referrals

We only accept x-ray/scan requests from authorised referrers, you cannot refer yourself. Authorised referrers include hospital doctors and GPs, dentists and some specially trained nurses and physiotherapists. The request is usually written on an x-ray request card or a letter and must be signed, dated and contain enough information to make sure the most appropriate examination is being requested. The person writing the request for you has to make sure it meets the guidelines for x-ray/scan examination issued by the department.

X-rays and Scans

Below are the types of X-rays and scans carried out at Bedford, please click on the links to find out more about these scans.

Plain x-rays can be done in our walk in session which operates between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Results

The results will be sent back to the doctor who referred you for the x-ray/scan within five working days. We do not generally give results on the day.

Contact Us

Telephone: 01234 792239 (with answerphone)

Fax 01234 792106

Other Services