Imaging (GP information)

The Imaging Department is extremely well equipped and provides a comprehensive range of diagnostic and interventional services. Each service tends to be referred to as a modality and a brief outline of each service and opening hours is detailed below.

We have a large multidisciplinary team comprising of Radiologists, Radiographers, Sonographers, Senior Nurses, Imaging Assistants, Administrators and Porters. Patients will always receive a friendly and professional welcome. We pride ourselves on delivering a patient focused service with a maximum waiting time of four weeks for most routine examinations.

If you need to contact the Imaging department to cancel/change an appointment or for other general enquiries please email using this address: lutonimagingbookings@bedsft.nhs.uk

Main X-ray
Open Monday to Friday 8.30 – 17.00 and provides plain film X-ray support for GPs, Outpatient clinics, inpatients, dental and fluoroscopy. Walk-in access for chest-X-ray is available 9.00-12.00 and 13.30-16.30 (Monday to Friday). Patients may be asked to change into a gown for certain XRay procedures.

A&E X-ray
Open 24/7 providing plain film X-ray support to our Emergency Department and Acute Wards.

CT Scanning
The CT department has two GE scanners, Discovery HD with the latest dual energy capabilities and an OPTIMA 660 with organ dose modulation. We carry out a large range of CT examinations including colonography studies and cardiac scanning. CT is open seven days per week 8.00 – 20.00 Monday to Friday and 8.00 – 18.00 at weekends. Emergency CT is available 24 hours a day.

MRI
The MRI department has three Philips scanners carrying out a large range of MR examinations. MRI is open seven days per week 7.00 – 20.00 Monday to Friday and 7.00 – 18.00 at weekends.

General Medical Ultrasound
General medical ultrasound covers abdominal, soft tissue and vascular examinations. Our general medical ultrasound department is open seven days per week, Monday to Thursday 8.00 – 20.00, Fridays 8.00 – 16.30 and 8.30 – 16.30 at weekends.

Maternity Ultrasound Department
Based in our Women’s Health Unit and is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8.00 – 16.30 with Tuesdays 8.00 – 20.00. Please see our policy on fetal sexing for pregnant women.

Nuclear Medicine Department
Our Nuclear Medicine department is open Monday to Friday 8.30 – 17.00 and involves the use of radioisotopes to assist in specialist imaging. This service also includes bone densitometry (DEXA) scanning.

Waiting times for all diagnostic services are low. The national waiting time targets are to see patients within 6 weeks but this Department strives to provide a faster response and is working towards extending patient choice of appointments wherever possible. Please see our patient access policy for further information.

If you have any queries about your examination, or the service please contact us on 01582 718156.