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Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
MRI for the brain and spine
- Rapid access to an MRI in London, Manchester and Birmingham
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours – results in just 48 hours
- All scans are reviewed by a consultant radiologist
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BRAIN AND SPINE MRI SCAN AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
At HCA UK, we provide fast access to the latest MRI scanning technology across our state-of-the-art facilities in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Our scanning services are led by our highly skilled consultant radiologists and tailored to you, with a focus on precision, safety and rapid results. If you’re nervous, we can help. Our friendly and supportive teams carry out more than 350,000 scans each year and are experienced in dealing with anxious patients. We also offer wide-bore scanners, which have larger openings, to patients who suffer from claustrophobia.
Our scanning services are led by our highly skilled consultant radiologists and tailored to you, with a focus on precision, safety and rapid results. If you’re nervous, we can help. Our friendly and supportive teams carry out more than 350,000 scans each year and are experienced in dealing with anxious patients. We also offer wide-bore scanners, which have larger openings, to patients who suffer from claustrophobia.
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which means it uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce highly detailed images of your bones, joints and soft tissues, such as cartilage, muscles and tendons.
An MRI scanner looks like a large tube that you lie inside. The scan is non-invasive and painless, although the scanner is noisy so you’ll be given headphones and earplugs to wear.
Due to the exceptional quality of the pictures it produces, an MRI scan is the most frequently used scan for testing and diagnosing brain and spinal cord injuries.
An MRI scanner looks like a large tube that you lie inside. The scan is non-invasive and painless, although the scanner is noisy so you’ll be given headphones and earplugs to wear.
Due to the exceptional quality of the pictures it produces, an MRI scan is the most frequently used scan for testing and diagnosing brain and spinal cord injuries.
An MRI scan allows your consultant to examine these complex areas in more detail. The high-quality images the scan produces means you consultant can pinpoint an injury, identify any structural abnormalities or diagnose a condition. It can also be used to help plan surgeries on the spine, such as lumbar decompression surgery or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
You may be offered an MRA, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Angiography. This is a specialist MRI scan that looks specifically at blood vessels. It can be used to detect intracranial abnormalities within the brain, such as aneurysms and vascular or arteriovenous malformations (abnormalities of blood vessels within the brain, spinal cord, or other parts of the body).
There may be other reasons for your consultant to recommend an MRI of the spine or brain. An accurate diagnosis will give you and your consultant the ability to manage your condition in the best way possible.
You may be offered an MRA, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Angiography. This is a specialist MRI scan that looks specifically at blood vessels. It can be used to detect intracranial abnormalities within the brain, such as aneurysms and vascular or arteriovenous malformations (abnormalities of blood vessels within the brain, spinal cord, or other parts of the body).
There may be other reasons for your consultant to recommend an MRI of the spine or brain. An accurate diagnosis will give you and your consultant the ability to manage your condition in the best way possible.
Unlike other imaging techniques, such as CT scanning, it does not use radiation. This makes it a safe option for repeated imaging, especially for conditions that require ongoing monitoring or when radiation dose is a consideration for paediatric patients.
An MRI can help identify many conditions including the following:
- Tumours of the brain and spine
- Abscesses
- Degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, and
multiple sclerosis - Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)
- Haemorrhage (bleeding into the brain or spinal cord)
- Subdural hematoma (blood collection in the brain)
- Slipped or herniated disc
- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Most MRI scans take from 20-60 minutes in duration, but sometimes they can take longer. The length of your scan depends on the number of areas to be scanned, how many images need to be taken and if an MRI contrast dye injection is required.
Our MRI scans are radiologist-led, meaning that in many cases the MRI scan protocol is designed with your injury or symptoms in mind and a bespoke scan may be necessary to get the best imaging for an accurate diagnosis.
Our MRI scans are radiologist-led, meaning that in many cases the MRI scan protocol is designed with your injury or symptoms in mind and a bespoke scan may be necessary to get the best imaging for an accurate diagnosis.
Next-day scans available
Get on the path to an expert diagnosis in as little as 24 hours.
Highly skilled specialist radiologists
For better scan selections, accurate results and insightful reports.
Wider scanners for a more comfortable experience
Expertise in supporting anxious and claustrophobic patients.
Locations - Hospitals
Choose from our state-of-the-art facilities in London, Birmingham and Manchester for your brain and spine MRI scan.
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
Locations - Outpatient centres
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients
15 - 17 Lodge Road NW8 7JA London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
The Waterfront Business Park, Beaufort House Elstree Road, Elstree WD6 3BS Hertfordshire
Golders Green Outpatients
Roman House, 296 Golders Green Road Golders Green NW11 9PY London
Your patient journey
Your brain and spine MRI with HCA UK
From your initial consultation through to diagnosis and treatment, we want you to feel informed and reassured. We’re always available to answer any questions you may have, but this will give you a good idea of what to expect.
You’ll be in expert hands – all of our MRI scans are carried out by our specialist radiographers in comfortable, state-of-the-art facilities.
01
Before your MRI scan
Your doctor will usually send a referral to our dedicated imaging booking team. The booking team will then send all the information you need to prepare for your scan, including what to leave at home (such as metal or jewellery), and whether you need to fast. If you have a pacemaker or other medical implant, we’ll ask you to provide details.
02
During your MRI scan
Your MRI radiographer will confirm the screening process, step by step, including any safety procedures, and ask you to sign a patient safety questionnaire form.
You’ll be given a gown for the scan, and you may be given an injection of ‘contrast’ medication to enhance the images. You’ll then be asked to lie on the scanner table.
When you are comfortable and ready, you’ll be moved into the scanner tunnel. Most scans last between 20 and 60 minutes. The radiographer will talk to you throughout the scan and you can listen to your favourite music or podcasts to help you relax.
Consultant radiologists are available throughout service hours to support the Radiographers and advise where additional scans may be required.
03
After your MRI scan
A specialist consultant radiologist will report on your scan. The report is usually sent to your referring doctor within 48hrs.
If you have booked a same-day consultation and scan, your HCA UK consultant will ask to see you after the scan, once they and the radiologist have reviewed the results. Your consultant will then be able to arrange any further tests or necessary treatments. Rest assured, you’ll receive all the expert care and support you need before, during and after your scan.
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And, to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Book an appointment
MRI for the brain and spine FAQs
In most cases, you’ll lie on your back (we call this ‘supine’) on the scanner table either feet-first or head-first. The direction you lie in depends on the area of your body to be scanned.
For example:
For example:
- Head/neck/thoracic and spine – head-first orientation
- Feet/ankles/knees – feet-first orientation
- Abdomen/pelvis/lumbar spine – these can be in either direction. Your radiographer will let you know
Not all scans require a contrast dye injection; it depends on the area of the body that is to be scanned and the clinical reason for your scan.
The contrast dye makes certain blood vessels and tissues show up more clearly in the scan. For this reason, some MRI scans are performed almost routinely with a contrast dye. These include prostate, abdomen/pelvic and MRA scans (a scan of the blood vessels in the body).
Other MRI scans may require a contrast injection depending on the suspected injury or condition your doctor or consultant believes you may have.
If your scan does require a contrast injection, the radiographer will inform you at your appointment and ask you to complete a contrast study checklist along with the MRI safety checklist.
The contrast dye makes certain blood vessels and tissues show up more clearly in the scan. For this reason, some MRI scans are performed almost routinely with a contrast dye. These include prostate, abdomen/pelvic and MRA scans (a scan of the blood vessels in the body).
Other MRI scans may require a contrast injection depending on the suspected injury or condition your doctor or consultant believes you may have.
If your scan does require a contrast injection, the radiographer will inform you at your appointment and ask you to complete a contrast study checklist along with the MRI safety checklist.
Some of our specialist MRI scans may require you to not eat for a few hours prior to your MRI scan, or to come early to drink a preparation. Our team will let you know if this is a requirement for your scan.
If you’re ever unsure of what is required prior to your scan, please get in contact with your chosen imaging facility, who’ll be happy to answer any questions related to your scan.
If you’re ever unsure of what is required prior to your scan, please get in contact with your chosen imaging facility, who’ll be happy to answer any questions related to your scan.
Yes, in most cases you’ll still be able to have an MRI scan, but it may take longer to schedule your appointment.
If you have a pacemaker or another type of implant inside your body, it is very important that the radiography team is made aware of this implant before you come for your MRI scan.
We may need time to request additional documented evidence of the make and model number of your device, who carried out the surgery, and/or in which facility you had the device implanted.
This information will allow the radiography team to establish the safety rating of the implant*, have the radiologist protocol your MRI scan and prepare any safety measures required to carry out your MRI scan safely.
In some cases, implants may require the presence of specialist staff to attend your MRI scan. They may be needed to fit additional kit to your device to make it safe or to monitor you during your scan.
Pacemaker patients, for example, will require a cardiac technician to be present to put your pacemaker into ‘safe mode’ and to reset it when the scan is complete.
*Please note that if your implanted device is found not to be compatible for any reason, then this will be communicated to you and/or your referring doctor or consultant. If you have any further questions or need advice about what alternative imaging techniques are available to you, please consult your doctor or consultant.
Your MRI scan will be read by one of our consultant radiologists, and your results will be sent directly to your referring doctor or consultant. Your doctor or consultant will relay these results back to you.
Yes, you can. If you require a copy of your images for any reason, please let the radiographer know at the time of your scan.
We have a dedicated team that provides this service and they’re reachable via email at any time after your scan. You’ll need to tell them your full name, date of birth and address, the type of scan you had and the date it took place*.
The team will then be able to contact you (via email) when your images are available and provide instructions on how to access your images. You’ll be able to download a copy of your images for yourself and/or share the images with anyone of your choosing.
*Please be aware that if you do not provide the required information to process your request, this may delay access to your images.
The cost of your MRI scan varies, depending on what body part (or parts) are to be scanned, whether contrast dye is required and if any specialist teams are needed in addition to your MRI scan.
If you need to find out more about our MRI costs, please call the Self Pay team on 0207 234 2948, so we can put you in touch with the relevant team at your chosen facility.
In most cases, we’d prefer to carry out the MRI scan after the baby is born for the safety of you and your unborn child. However, if your referring doctor or consultant believes your particular health issue may be of an urgent nature and the risks of not doing the MRI outweighs the risk to you and the baby, then an MRI may be considered in this case.
Your referring doctor or consultant will need to communicate the risks and benefits of this procedure to you to obtain your consent. They’ll also need to consult our consultant radiologist for advice prior to agreeing to your MRI scan.
Your referring doctor or consultant will need to communicate the risks and benefits of this procedure to you to obtain your consent. They’ll also need to consult our consultant radiologist for advice prior to agreeing to your MRI scan.
Children under the age of 16 cannot be left unattended while you have your scan. Please arrange childcare for when you visit our facilities for an MRI scan.
However, if you have an adult family member with you when you are visiting us, then they’ll need to be responsible for your child/children while you have your scan.
Please be aware that if you have brought a child with you for a consultation with one of our doctors and they refer you for an MRI scan on the same day, you’ll need to find childcare if you wish to stay for your scan.
Our staff cannot be responsible for your dependents while you undergo any imaging procedure at our facilities. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding with our policy that ensures the safety of your children.
In order for you to make an appointment for an MRI scan, we must first receive a referral letter (imaging request form) from your GP or other registered health professional with referral rights.
You can also book an appointment with one of our HCA UK private GPs, who can refer you directly for your MRI scan with us, often on the same day as your appointment.
You can also book an appointment with one of our HCA UK private GPs, who can refer you directly for your MRI scan with us, often on the same day as your appointment.
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.