Radiology at UHS
Service
Locality: South West
Type of Care: Primary, Secondary
There is an Advice and guidance option for UHS-facing practices.
This can be found under:
Under Specialty: Diagnostic Imaging
Clinic Type: MRI, Nuclear Medicine, USS, Plain Film XR, CT
This service is to clarify whether imaging is suitable for certain conditions or to seek further information regarding an exam that has already been performed.
Radiological investigations (X-rays, Ultrasound, CT KUB, barium studies) can be requested in ICE via the GP RADIOLOGY tab
In contingencies when ICE is not available, please complete this form and email to: uhs.gpreferral@nhs.net
This service is only available at the Royal South Hants Hospital for adult patients and is available immediately after your patient leaves the surgery.
The Walk In Chest X-ray service is open from 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays.
This is part of the Direct Access to CT Chest pathway – should findings from a CXR be suspicious for malignancy, Cardiothoracic Radiology will be informed and CT Chest will be requested. It will be booked within 24 hours and the patient will be contacted by telephone or first class letter. The patient information letter outlines this process.
Ultrasound is often used as a first line investigation as the test is available, non-invasive and
does not involve ionising radiation. Many primary care clinicians express considerable
uncertainty as to where it can be used most effectively. These guidelines are designed to
help GPs in that challenging decision making process, reducing GP workload and reducing
demand for scans where ultrasound is unlikely to be helpful, creating capacity for those who
really need it.
At the same time, we ask for careful consideration before marking a case as “urgent”. This
prolongs waiting times for everyone, and delays some patients being referred for an
appropriate test as they wait for an ultrasound, which may not be indicated.
We recognise that there may be specific clinical situations not within the scope of these
guidelines when an ultrasound is helpful, and if there are any clinical queries we would be
happy to answer these. Please contact uhs.pacssupport@nhs.net and leave your query
with your preferred contact details and the relevant radiology consultant, registrar or
sonographer will get back to you.
UNIVERSITY HOPSITAL SOUTHAMPTON GUIDELINES FOR GP ULTRASOUND REFERRALS IN
ADULTS
Criteria for bone density scan:
- This is a radiation technique, so please do not refer patients who are pregnant.
- Weight restriction of 150kg.
