MRI Scanning

An MRI can detect problems such as:

• tumours (cancerous and non-cancerous) - chest, abdomen or pelvis.
• diseases - of the liver, such as cirrhosis
• abnormalities - of the bile ducts and pancreas
• inflammatory bowel disease - including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
• heart problems – such as congenital heart disease
• blood vessel malformation and inflammation (vasculitis)

Yes, a referral from your GP, consultant, or healthcare professional is required before booking an MRI scan.

• Ask your doctor or another medical professional for an imaging referral and to send it to a Ramsay hospital of your choice.
• Your referrer will then contact us on your behalf with all of your details. Once we have your details, we will review and confirm the referral and contact you to arrange a convenient appointment for your scan.
• We will provide you with all the information you need to allow you to prepare for your visit. This includes directions to the hospital, any special instructions required for your particular scan and what to expect on the day.

Yes, MRI scans are extremely safe. They do not involve radiation, unlike X-rays or CT scans. However, it is important that you tell us before the scan if you:

• you are (or might be) pregnant
• have a heart pacemaker or an artificial heart valve
• have any electro-mechanical devices used for drug delivery
• have a cochlear implant, a neurostimulator or a programmable hydrocephalus shunt
• have had any operations on your head, heart or ears
• have any metal implant in your body, clip, stent or staple
• have had an injury to your eyes involving metal splinters/fragments
• have had a capsule endoscopy (PillCam)

Having something metallic in your body doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have an MRI scan, but it is important for us to know that you have it. We decide on an individual basis if there are any risks associated with your implant, and what we can do to make the scan as safe as possible.

Your appointment letter will contain any necessary instructions about eating, drinking and medication as well as a safety questionnaire that you will need to complete before the scan.

You should wear loose, comfortable clothing without any metal fastenings, such as zips or buttons. We may also provide a gown to wear during the scan.

It is important that you remove all metal objects from your body before the MRI scan, this includes:

• Jewellery
• Piercings
• Watches
• Wigs/hair extensions
• Hearing aids
• Belts, buckles, bras with underwiring
• Certain sportswear contains metallic fibres which you may be asked to remove prior to the MRI examination

On arrival, patients are greeted by a radiographer and will be asked to remove any metal objects and you may be asked to change into a hospital gown.

The radiographer will go through your safety questionnaire with you, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have to ensure that you feel comfortable.

You will be taken to the scanner room, where the full procedure will be explained further. You will be asked to lie down on the examination couch and made comfortable. You will be given ear plugs and headphones to help mask the noise of the scanner. It is important to lie perfectly still for the duration of the examination so that the images are not blurred. 

The area of the body to be examined needs to be in the centre of the scanner, so you may enter it head or feet first. You will be given a buzzer to hold which you can press to alert the radiographer and pause the scan if necessary. 

The radiographer can see and hear you at all times during the scan and will be able to talk to you throughout the examination.

It is sometimes necessary to supplement your examination with an injection of an MRI contrast agent or ‘dye’. This will help show up some structures within your body more clearly. The injection should not affect your ability to drive home in any way.  

How long does an MRI take?

The examination consists of several sequences or scans, each lasting a few minutes with a short pause between each one. The consultant radiologist will have protocolled which sequences are necessary for you and the examination  will usually take between 20-90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and the number of sequences. 

MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of your body's internal structures.

It works by lining up tiny particles in your body (called hydrogen protons) using the magnet. Then, radio waves briefly move them out of line. When they go back to normal, they send out signals that a computer turns into detailed images. Different body parts show up differently because they return to normal at different speeds.

MRI scans are not suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant, have certain metal implants, such as pacemakers or cochlear implants, you may not be able to have an MRI Scan at a Ramsay Hospital. Always tell your Radiographer about any implants or medical devices, or if you think you may be pregnant before your scan

We may need to give you a contrast injection to increase the amount of information we can get from the scan.

MRI contrast contains gadolinium and there is an extremely low risk of having an allergic reaction to it. In the rare event that this does happen, our Radiographers and medical teams are trained to deal with any situation that may arise.

An MRI and CT scans are similar in that they allow your doctor to see your internal body parts. But there are differences in these scans.

The biggest difference is that an MRI scan uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves and a CT scan uses X-rays.

Both MRI and CT scans are relatively safe procedures.

A doctor will recommend which scan is best for you based on a range of factors. These include:

• the medical reason for your scan
• the level of image detail needed
• whether you’re pregnant
• whether an MRI is difficult to tolerate (such as claustrophobic patients).

A CT scan is typically much faster than an MRI and so it is often used in emergency trauma cases where a quick diagnosis is vital. This includes:

• imaging bones and detecting fractures
• iidentifying acute bleeding after accidents including a head injury, or stroke to determine whether the stroke is ischaemic (caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel) or haemorrhagic (caused by a blood vessel bursting).
• iLung and chest problems
• Kidney stones

At Ramsay Hospitals, MRI scans may not be suitable for individuals with pacemakers, metal implants, or certain aneurysm clips, whereas CT scans typically do not have these restrictions.

MRI scans particularly effective for imaging soft tissues and organs, such as the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and joints. They can help detect issues such as tumours, inflammation, ligament injuries, and neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis.

There is no recovery process after an MRI, even if you have a contrast agent, so you can go home and resume your daily activities immediately.

However, if you’ve had a sedative, you will need a lift home and an adult to stay with you for the first 24 hours. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours after a sedative.

Once the examination is completed, the images will be reported by a Consultant Radiologist and the results sent to the referring clinician.

We are unable to discuss your results with you immediately after the examination, as your Doctor or Consultant will do this with you at your follow-up appointment. You will need to arrange a follow-up appointment to discuss the results of your scan and ongoing treatment. 

If you suffer from claustrophobia, you may need additional support during the scan. We will do our best to support you during the scan. Please contact us using the number on your appointment letter if you would like to speak to a member of the team about this. There may be other imaging options available, depending on the area to be scanned.

The MRI examination is quite noisy and you will be given ear protection to reduce the level of discomfort caused by this noise. 

The scanner is equipped with a sound system and has the option to listen to the radio. Please advise the hospital if you wish to listen to something specific and they can let you know if this can be accommodated within the scanner.

Yes, in most cases you can eat and drink normally and take your medication as usual, unless your appointment letter tells you otherwise. However there are some exceptions depending on the type of MRI being performed:

• If dye/contrast is used, you might be asked to fast (not eat) or drink extra water, depending on the area being scanned
• Particular scans, like MRI small bowel (Enterography), have specific dietary instructions to follow the day before
• An abdominal MRI may require you to fast for a few hours

Always follow the instructions in your appointment letter or check with the hospital’s radiology department if you are unsure.

When having an MRI, only the specific area being examined, in this case, the brain and surrounding structures, is scanned to focus on providing detailed images to help assess your brain’s anatomy and any potential abnormalities.

The part of your body being scanned needs to be in the middle of the MRI scanner. That’s because the magnetic field is strongest and most even in the centre, which helps produce clear and accurate images.

If you're not in the right position, the pictures can come out blurry or distorted, which makes it harder for the Radiologist to interpret the images accurately.

Depending on which part of your body is being scanned, you’ll go into the scanner head first or feet first. The Radiographer will help position you carefully to make sure the right area is in the centre.

MRI scans are generally very safe. However, like any medical procedure, there can be some side effects or risks:

Dye (Contrast) Side Effects

Some MRI scans involve an injection of a dye (gadolinium-based contrast) to help certain tissues show up more clearly. Side effects may include:

• Mild allergic reactions (rash, itching)
• Feeling or being sick
• Headache or dizziness

Rare: People with severe kidney problems may be at risk of a rare condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). You may need a kidney function test before the scan if this applies to you.

Heating and Skin Burns (Very Rare)

• MRI scanners use radio waves that can cause slight heating of body tissues.
• In rare cases, this can lead to skin burns, especially if metal objects (like wires or ECG leads) are left on the skin. Radiographers take precautions to prevent this, such as using padding and checking for metal.

Noise

MRI scanners make very loud noises during the scan – often described as banging, knocking, or buzzing sounds. This is completely normal and happens because of how the machine works to take detailed pictures of the inside of your body. To protect your ears from these loud sounds, you’ll be given earplugs to wear. These help:

• Protect your hearing
• Make the scan more comfortable
• Reduce stress from the noise

In Ramsay hospitals, you will also wear communication headphones to allow the Radiographer to talk to you during the scan.

Feeling Anxious or Claustrophobic

• Some people feel anxious or claustrophobic inside the MRI scanner. The Radiographer will help provide reassurance and can see and speak to you during you scan. Your doctor may prescribe a sedative if you're worried, but you’ll need someone to take you home afterwards.

The costs of an MRI scan privately will depend on the reason for your scan, the area of your body being scanned, and your chosen Ramsay hospital.

You will receive a formal quotation price after your consultation. This formal quote will be valid for 60 days.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Medical insurance policies usually cover MRI scans if they are medically necessary. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before commencing your scan.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your MRI scan yourself. These include interest-free finance with no deposit and monthly instalments at 0% interest.