After booking in at the medical imaging main reception, patients will be asked to wait in the main waiting area. A member of staff will call out the patient's name and escort the patient to a sub-wait area. You may be required to remove certain clothing or jewellery, and change into a hospital gown. Changing rooms and locker facilities are available.
Women patients (and trans men and some non-binary people, if applicable) between the ages of 12 and 55 will be asked questions related to their last menstrual period (LMP) prior to certain plain film examinations.
During the X-ray
The radiographer (or assistant practitioner or student) performing the test will explain what is going to happen and in what position you need to be in. You will either lie on the table or stand up for an X-ray.
Clear instructions will be provided prior to and throughout the examination.
On average the X-ray will last between 5 and 15 minutes.
Can someone stay during the x-ray?
No, due to the exposure to ionising radiation patients cannot be accompanied during the X-ray. For very small children requiring X-rays the radiographer will ask a parent or carer to accompany, and hold their child. In this scenario the parent will be asked to wear a lead apron to protect them from the radiation.
Are there any risks to having an X-ray?
An X-ray uses a small amount of radiation that pass through you, to take detailed images of the bones and some organs. The images will help your clinician to make an accurate diagnosis and plan your care.
Every day, we are all exposed to background radiation from natural sources like the air, ground, and food. However, any X-ray procedure carries a small additional risk. A medical specialist has carefully considered that the benefits of this scan outweigh the small risk from radiation. We always use the smallest dose possible while still getting the images we need. We always use the smallest dose possible while still getting the images we need.
More information is available on the Trust website or if you have any questions about your scan or the radiation involved please contact our radiology team.
When will the X-Ray results be available?
The radiographer will not be able to give patients their results. The X-ray will be studied by a consultant radiologist or a specially trained radiographer who will send the results to the person that referred the patient. This normally takes ten working days.
However, if you have been referred via the emergency department or a clinic within the Trust, you may return to that clinic on the same day. Your consultant will view the X-ray at that time.
