MRI appointment

Patient on MRI scanner

If you have an MRI appointment with us, here is what to expect.

Before your MRI appointment

The following exams all require special patient preparation

  • abdomen
  • abdomen and pelvis
  • adrenals
  • bowel
  • colon
  • liver
  • pancreas
  • small bowel study
  • urinary bladder

The preparation advice is different for patients with diabetes than those without diabetes. Make sure you follow the correct advice for you. 

Non-Diabetic Patients 

Please do not eat or drink anything (except sips of water) for 4 hours before your appointment time. 

You can continue to take your usual medication.
 
Before entering the magnetic field, you will be required to remove all metallic objects, jewellery and items such as bank cards. These can be stored securely during your scan. 

You will also be required to remove any skin patches e.g., nicotine or hormone patches, and body piercings. 

If possible, wear clothing without any metal fasteners or zips – this may avoid having to change into a gown. 

It is safe to scan if you have any metal joint replacements such as a hip or knee replacement. 

For more information about having an MRI examination, go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mri-scan/ 

Diabetic Patients 

Please contact us on 0203 818 7777 if you are diabetic and we will book you in an early morning or afternoon appointment.

Please do not eat or drink anything (except sips of water) for 4 hours before your appointment time.

Have a starchy bedtime snack on the night before your appointment if you are concerned that you may become ‘hypo’.

Do not take your morning diabetic tablets or insulin, unless you take insulin glargine (Lantus) or detemir (Levemir) in the morning, then continue as normal. You may take other required mediations with water.

Check your blood sugar levels at least hourly. If your sugar level is less than 4 or you feel ‘hypo’, have a sugary, non-fizzy drink, GlucoGel or glucose tablets to correct this
Bring a drink and some biscuits or a sandwich with you for after your scan.

If you have a continuous subcutaneous insulin pump you must contact your nurse contact specialist or care provider for specific advice.

The information is intended to give standard advice to insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetic patients who have been asked to fast in preparation for an MRI scan under GP care.

However, every patient’s needs are different so if you have any doubts you are strongly advised to further seek the advice from your GP practice or Diabetes Specialist Nurse. 

MRI visits not listed in the special preparation section above

There is no preparation required for examinations that are not listed as special preparation. 

  • Please eat and drink normally prior to and after your scan. 
  • You can continue to take your usual medication. 
  • Before entering the magnetic field, you will be required to remove all metallic objects, jewellery and items such as bank cards. These can be stored securely during your scan. 
  • You will also be required to remove any skin patches e.g., nicotine or hormone patches, and body piercings. 
  • If possible, wear clothing without any metal fasteners or zips – this may avoid having to change into a gown. 
  • It is safe to scan if you have any metal joint replacements such as a hip or knee replacement. 
  • For more information about having an MRI examination go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mri-scan/ 

During your MRI appointment

What will I have to do before my scan? 

Please remove all jewellery and wrist watches and if possible, wear clothing without any metal fasteners or zips. 

You will be greeted by a radiographer or health care assistant who will check your details, area that is being scanned and will confirm the answers to your safety questionnaire. 

You may be asked to change into a gown and your belongings will be securely locked away. 

What will happen during my scan?

The MRI scanner is open at both ends and has a moveable couch which slides into the machine.

You will be asked to lie on the couch and made comfortable. The part of the body being examined is placed in the middle of the scanner. You will be given a call button to gain the Radiographer’s attention if required.

The scan takes approximately 30 minutes depending on the specific examination, during which time it is important to lie very still. The machine is noisy and will make knocking or buzzing sounds throughout the scan and you will be provided with earplugs or headphones to protect your ears. 

Some examinations require a small quantity of contrast dye to be injected by a vein in your hand or arm in order to help with a diagnosis.  The radiographer will discuss this with you at the time of your appointment and will place a small cannula (thin plastic tube) into a vein in your hand or arm. Side effects are unlikely and you can drive and continue as normal after the procedure. 

After your MRI appointment

After your examination there will be many images which will need to be reviewed by a consultant, so we will not be able to give you an instant result.

You will need to make an appointment with the clinician who requested your scan to discuss the results. Usually, this process takes approximately one week. 

Change or cancel your MRI appointment

You can manage your appointment by calling your local service or completing the contact us form on our website. 

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