Radiology

We provide a 24-hour service but only for accident and emergency, and ward patients. GP patients are seen between 8.00am and 7.00pm.   Patients who have made a booking (and/or they may walk in) are seen between 9.00am and 4.00pm but may have to wait. Outpatients are seen in working hours ie between 9.00am and 5.00pm. Some interventional procedures are also carried out. 

Approximately 450 patients are seen in the department daily and over 110,000 investigations undertaken annually.

Services offered

• Plain radiography - x-ray for various conditions

• Routine and special ultrasound examination including vascular studies

• CT scanning

• Barium studies - barium enemas, barium meals and swallows and follow throughs

• Intravenous urograms

• Mammography service looking at symptomatic disease

• Early pregnancy assessment - special weekday clinic in accident and emergency
  

• Radiographers will also take x-rays on the ward with a mobile machine for patients too ill to be brought down to the department. They also participate in theatre cases where an image intensifier is used to guide surgeons during surgical procedures

• Angiograms looking for blocked arteries

• Angioplasties where a balloon-like device dilates the artery so helping blood flow

• Stenting - a method where a sleeve is inserted into an organ to keep it open and functioning, examples being renal artery stenting or oesophageal stenting.

The radiology team

There are now nine consultant radiologists, 20 radiographers, one assistant practitioner, four helpers/support workers in main radiology, four sonographers and four sonographer helpers. In addition there is a supporting administrative team.

The Trust has recently installed, into a new building alongside the main department, its first MRI (Magnetic Resonance imaging) scanner which is a valuable additional imaging tool for the radiology department

How to access the service

Referral is from a GP or outpatient clinics in the hospital.  

• GP Patients may either walk in between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday (but may have a long wait at busy times of the day) or may book an appointment anytime between 8.00am and 7.00pm Monday to Friday. Outpatients will be referred from the clinics anytime between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday

• Appointments can be booked by telephone on 020 8967 5025

• Open access for chest radiology is provided Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 4.30pm

• Ultra sound is by appointment only unless through the accident and emergency department.