Patient Information Service
Having a CT scan at
Having an MRI scan at
Southend Hospital
Southend
Hospital
OK.
CT scans are special cameras which can
The MRI scanner has a big magnet
take pictures of the inside of our bodies.
inside it. The magnet works with
computers
When
everyonetois take
readythe
youpictures
will needof
to lay
down
on
the
scanner.
your body.
Your GP or hospital doctor will tell you
why you need a scan.
Your
G.P or hospital
Doctor
The
radiographer
will tell you
what will
to tell you
do.why you need a scan.
If you are already in hospital the staff
will take you for your scan.
If you are already in hospital the staff
If you
are
already
inscan
hospital the staff
will
take
youDo
fornot
your
Keep
still.
move.
will take you for your scan
If you are coming from home you need
to
tellare
the
receptionist
when
you arrive.
If you
coming
from home
you need
toIf tell
when
you you
arrive.
youthe
arereceptionist
coming from
home
need
to tell the receptionist when you arrive.
When the radiographer is ready they
might ask you to put on a gown. We
When the radiographer is ready they
have a changing area if needed
might ask you to put on a gown. We
have a changing area if needed
1
You must take off any metal that you
you for yourwhen
scanyou arrive.
towill
telltake
the receptionist
Whenthe
theradiographer
radiographer
is ready
they
When
is ready
they
might
askyou
youtotoput
put
on
a gown.
might
ask
on
a ready
gown.
We We
Whenthe
the
radiographer
they
When
radiographer
is is
ready
they
have
aask
changing
area
if
needed.
have
changing
area
ifa home
needed
might
you
put
a gown.
If youaask
are
coming
from
you
need
might
you
totoput
onon
gown.
WeWe
When the radiographer is ready they
have
changing
area
if needed
to tell
the
receptionist
when
you arrive.
have
aaask
changing
ifon
needed
might
you
toarea
put
a gown.
We
have a changing area if needed
You must take off any metal that you are
wearing.
This off
could
jewellery
or a zip
You
must take
anybe
metal
that you
You
metal
that
you
Youmust
musttake
takeoffoffany
any
metal
that
you
are
wearing.
This
could
be
jewellery
When
the
radiographer
isjewellery
ready they
on
clothes.
are
wearing.
This
of of
areyour
wearing.
This
could
be
jewellery
You
must take
offcould
any be
metal
that you
might
ask
you
to
put
on
a
gown.
We
of
a
zip
on
your
clothes.
aazip
on
your
clothes.
zip on your clothes.
are wearing. This could be jewellery
have a changing area if needed
of a zip on your clothes.
You
may be
asked
havea atiny
drink of
Sometimes
you
need to
to have
Sometimes
you
need
to
have
a
tiny
water.
helps
us
to get
a we
better
tube may
putThis
inbe
your
hand.
This
isasodrink
can
You
asked
to
have
ofcan
tube
put in
your
hand.
This
isdrink
so we
You
must
take
off
any
metal
that
you
You
may
be
asked
to
have
a
of
put
special
dye
in
your
body
to
help
the
picture.
water.
This helps
to body
get
better
put
dye
inus
your
to
help the
are special
wearing.
This
could
be a
of
water.
This
helps
us
to get
ajewellery
better
camera
see
better.
picture.
camera
see
better.
a zip on your clothes.
picture.
Sometimes you need to have a tiny tube
Sometimes
you
need
tohave
have
tiny
Sometimes
you
need
to
have
tiny
Sometimes
need
to
aaatiny
put
in youryou
hand.
This
is
so we
can put
tube
put
in
your
hand.
This
is
so
we can
tubeput
putin
inyour
your hand.
hand. This is so
tube
so
we
special
dye
in your
body
to
help
the
can
put
special
dye
in your
your
body
to the
put put
special
dyedye
in your
bodybody
to help
can
special
in
to
camera
help
the see
camera
see better.
camera
see better.
better.
help the camera see better.
When everyone is ready you will need to
lay down on the scanner.
When everyone is ready you will
need to
lay downison
the scanner.
When
everyone
ready
you will
need to lay down on the scanner.
2
The radiographer will tell you what
to do.
The
willmusic
tell you
You radiographer
can bring some
to what
listento
do.
to. The MRI is very noisy, that is
OK.
You will need to lie down. A cloth belt
will be put around your body. This helps
you to lie still on the trolley.
Keep
Do notismove.
Whenstill.
everyone
ready you will need
to lay down on the scanner.
You will slide through the scanner on the
trolley. The scanner makes a noise. When
you go into the scanner it is very close to
The
willslowly
move
in what
to theto
radiographer
will
Theyour
benchbench
will move
in slowly
totell
theyou
face.
tunnel
of the
MRI machine.
do.part ofpart
tunnel
the MRI
machine.
This test takes about five minutes but
you may be in the room for up to 30
The MRI scan can take about 30
Theminutes.
MRI scan can take about 30
minutes.
Keep
minutes. still. Do not move.
Hospital staff can see you and talk
Hospital
stafffrom
can see
you androom.
talk
to you
another
to you from another room.
3
tunnel part of the MRI machine.
If you would like your carer to stay with
you
will
have
stand
behind the
If
youthey
would
like
yourto
carer
to stay
The
MRI
scan
can
take
about
30
with
youwhen
they will
have
to is
stand
screen
your
scan
taken.
minutes.the screen when your scan is
behind
taken.
The bench will move slowly in to the
The bench
in to the
tunnel
part ofwill
themove
MRI slowly
machine.
tunnel part of the MRI machine.
When the camera is ready the
radiographer
behindofthe
screen
MRI scans will
takego
pictures
inside
When the camera is ready the
Hospital
staff
seebehind
you and
talk
your
and
takebody
thecan
pictures.
radiographer
will
go
the
to you from
another
screen
and take
the room.
pictures.
The MRI scan can take about 30
The MRI scan can take about 30
minutes.
minutes.
Scans do not hurt, do not worry.
Once the scan has been taken you can
Scans
do notand
hurt
not worry.
get dressed
godo
home
or back to the
This
is
an
MRI
machine.
It is OK.
ward.
Hospital
staff can
you and talk
It does
notsee
hurt.
to
you from
another
room.
Hospital
staff
can see
you and talk
to you from another room.
Once
taken
youyou can
Once the
thescan
scanhas
hasbeen
been
taken
can
get
dressed
and
go
home
or
Your
Doctor
will
look
at
the
pictures
andto
get dressed and go home or back
back
to
the
ward.
tell you
if youhas
need
more
treatment.
Once
the scan
been
taken
you can
the
ward.
get
dressed
andhas
go home
or
back
themagnet
The
scanner
has
a tobig
Once
the MRI
scan
been taken
you
can
ward.
get dressed
and
go home
or back
to the
inside it.
The
magnet
works
with
ward.
computers to take the pictures of
your body.
Your Doctor will look at the pictures
and
you if will
you look
need more
Yourtell
doctor
at the pictures and
treatment.
Your
look
at themore
pictures
and
tell Doctor
you ifwill
you
need
treatment.
tell
you
if
you
need
more
treatment.
Your Doctor will look at the pictures and
tell you if you need more treatment.
Your G.P or hospital Doctor will tell you
why you need a scan.
4
you need
need extra
extra help
IfIfyou
helptotohave
havea ascan
scan just
justusletknow.
us know
let
If you need extra help to have a scan
us know
Ifjust
youletneed
extra help to have a scan
just let us know
We have a learning disability nurse at
the hospital who can also give advice to
We have a learning disability nurse at
help
things
go
We
have
a learning
at
the
hospital
who
canwell.
also disability
give advicenurse
to
We
have
a learning
disability nurse at
helpthe
things
go well.
hospital
who
can also give advice to
the hospital who can also give advice to
things
go well.
helphelp
things
go well.
You
contact
the hospital
on
You
cancan
contact
her ather
the at
hospital
on
01702
435555
ext 6448.
01702
435555
ext 6448.
You can contact her at the hospital on
01702 435555 ext 6448.
You can contact her at the hospital on
01702 435555 ext 6448.
More
information
for people
More
information
for with
people with
learning disabilities can be found on the
learning
can be found on the
trust
website disabilities
www.southend.nhs.uk
Trust
websiteforwww.southend.nhs.uk
More
information
people with
learning disabilities can be found on the
trust website www.southend.nhs.uk
More information for people with
learning disabilities can be found on the
trust website www.southend.nhs.uk
5
Patient Information Service
If this leaflet does not answer all of your questions, or if you
have any other concerns please contact the learning disabilities
nurse specialist on: 01702 435555 ext 6448.
www.southend.nhs.uk
For a translated, large print or audio tape version
of this document please contact:
Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Prittlewell Chase
Westcliff-on-Sea
Essex, SS0 0RY
Telephone: 01702 385333
Fax: 01702 508530
Email: [email protected]
Written by Sarah Haines
Reviewed and revised February 2015
Leaflet due for revision February 2017
Form No. SOU4314 Version 1