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MRI scans for children
- Rapid access across London and Manchester
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours
- All scans are reviewed by a consultant radiologist
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Paediatric MRI scans at HCA UK
Why choose us?
If your child needs an MRI, we're here to guide you through every step. Our friendly radiology team has experience caring for babies and children, from newborns to 18 years. We'll take time to explain everything clearly, so you understand the process and feel reassured that your child is in safe hands.
With clinics in London and Manchester, we offer fast appointments and a caring approach to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.
An MRI scan is a safe, non-invasive procedure to take detailed images of the inside of your child's body. It helps consultants examine the brain, spine, joints and internal organs without the use of X-rays or radiation.
MRI scans are a gentle procedure – the machine can be noisy, but we'll provide your child with ear protection and ensure they're as comfortable as possible.
Please note, not all of our facilities offer MRI scans for babies and very young children. Our team will help find the most appropriate location based on your child's age and clinical needs.
Your child's consultant may request an MRI scan when other tests haven't provided enough detail. It can help them reach an accurate diagnosis and make sure your child receives the right care and treatment for issues such as:
- Unexplained headaches or seizures
- Developmental delays
- Concerns with the brain, spine or nervous system
- Injuries to joints or soft tissue
- Unusual lumps or swelling
MRI scans can help your child's consultant understand a wide range of health conditions in babies and children, including:
- Brain and spinal conditions
- Injuries
- Joint issues
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Tumours or growths
- Congenital conditions
Yes, our specialised and experienced team at The Portland Hospital offer a dedicated general anaesthetic service for paediatric patients over four months old. For patients over six years old, we try to perform the MRI scan without the use of anaesthesia.
Additionally, we offer a Feed and Wrap service for infants under four months of age. This technique enables babies to be scanned while they are sleeping, reducing the need for sedation.
To further enhance image quality and patient comfort, we utilise fast and motion-reduction scanning sequences, which help minimise movement during the scan and improve diagnostic outcomes.
The use of our Feed and Wrap and anaesthetic services depends on the child's age and the type of MRI scan. Your consultant will advise on the best course of action.
Our play specialists at The Portland Hospital are here to support young patients and their families through the scanning process. Our play therapy helps reduce anxiety and create a more positive experience, especially for neurodiverse patients.
Before the scan, your child can choose a film from our system to watch during the procedure. We also offer audiobooks and podcasts to suit different preferences. If you have any questions or special requirements, please let us know — we’re here to help.
Please note our play therapy and Feed and Wrap services are only available at The Portland Hospital. Please contact our dedicated booking team to learn more about these services and how to access them.
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.
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
Our friendly imaging teams are here to support you and your child with a rapid and accurate diagnosis, so your child's specialist can tailor a treatment plan.
We offer paediatric MRI scans at several of our HCA Healthcare UK hospitals and diagnostic centres across London and Manchester.
Some of our facilities welcome children of all ages, while others may only see children aged three and over. Our booking team will guide you to the most appropriate location for your child's age and needs. Please call 020 7079 4344 and select option 1 on the call menu for more information.
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Your child's patient journey
Private paediatric MRI scans with HCA UK
From your child's 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.
Your child will be in good hands – all our scans are carried out by our expert teams of paediatric radiographers who are specially trained to work with children of all ages. They will support you and your child through the whole scanning process.
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Before your child's MRI scan
Your doctor will usually send a referral for your child to our dedicated imaging booking team. The booking team will then send all the information you need to help you prepare your child for their scan, including what to leave at home (such as metal or jewellery), and whether they need to fast before their scan. If they have a pacemaker or other medical implant, we'll ask you to provide details.
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During your child's MRI scan
Your child's paediatric radiographer will guide you both through the process, explain safety steps and ask you to complete a questionnaire. Your child will be given a gown for the scan, and they may also be given an injection of 'contrast' medication to enhance the images. For their comfort, we can offer music to listen to during the scan.
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After your child's MRI scan
A specialist consultant paediatric radiologist will report on your child's scan. This will usually be sent to the referring doctor within 48 hours. Your child's consultant will then be able to arrange any further tests or treatments necessary. Rest assured, you and your child will receive all the expert care and support you need before, during and after their MRI 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.
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MRI scans in children FAQs
On average, most MRI scans last between 20 and 60 minutes, but in some cases, they can take longer. The length of your child's scan depends on how many images need to be taken and if an MRI contrast injection is required.
Yes, in most cases, a parent or guardian can stay with their child during the procedure. This can be comforting for both the child and the accompanying adult.
MRI contrast is sometimes used during an MRI scan for children to help highlight certain areas of the body. If needed, a small cannula will be placed in a vein in your child’s arm so the contrast dye can be gently injected. To make this more comfortable, numbing cream can be applied to the area beforehand.
This enhances the scan, helping our expert paediatric radiologists see as clearly as possible. If your child needs a contrast scan, they’ll be referred to The Portland Hospital, where specialist care is available for procedures involving contrast.
In most cases, they will lie on their back (supine) on the MRI scan table, either feet-first or head-first. The direction your child lies is dependent on what area of the body is to be scanned. For example:
- Head, neck and thoracic spine scans use head-first orientation
- Feet, ankle and knee scans use feet-first orientation
- Abdomen, pelvis or lumbar spine scans can, in most cases, be in either direction
Some MRI scans, however, may require your child to lie on their front (Prone) for their scan; these include hand, wrist and elbow MRI scans. Your paediatric radiographer will explain and position your child accordingly to the scanner type and coil choice for their particular MRI scan.
Some of our specialist MRI scans may require your child to fast for a few hours prior to their scan. If this is a requirement for your child's MRI scan, this will be communicated to you at the time of booking your child's MRI appointment.
Yes, in most cases, they'll still be able to have an MRI scan, but it may take longer to schedule an appointment.
If your child has a pacemaker or another type of implant inside their body, it is very important that the paediatric radiography team is made aware of this implant before your child's MRI scan.
We may need time to request additional documented evidence of the make and model number of their device, who carried out the surgery, and/or in which facility they had the device implanted.
This information will allow the paediatric radiography team to establish the safety rating of the implant*, have the radiologist protocol the MRI scan and prepare any safety measures required to carry out your child's MRI scan safely.
In some cases, implants may require the presence of specialist staff to attend your child's MRI scan. They may need to fit additional kit to your child's device to make it safe or to monitor them during their scan.
Pacemaker patients, for example, will require a cardiac technician to be present to put their pacemaker into 'safe mode' and to reset it when the scan is complete.
*Please note that if your child's implanted device is found not to be compatible for any reason, then this will be communicated to you and/or their referring doctor or consultant. If you have any further questions or need advice about what alternative imaging techniques are available to your child, please consult their doctor or consultant.
Yes, you can. If you require a copy of your child's images for any reason, please let the paediatric 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 child's scan. You'll need to tell them your child's full name, date of birth and address, the type of scan they had and the date it took place*.
The team will then be able to contact you (via email) when the images are available and provide instructions on how to access the images. You'll be able to download a copy of your child's 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 their 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 their 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 order for you to make an appointment for an MRI scan for your baby or child, we must first receive a referral letter (imaging request form) from their GP or other registered health professional with referral rights. You can also book an appointment for your child with one of our HCA UK private GPs, who can refer your child directly for an MRI scan with us.
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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.