Frequently asked questions
Prime Health is here to keep you well and help you make the right health decisions so we've gathered a list of frequently asked questions about our centres and the wide range of services we provide.
X-rays provide such a low dose of radiation that they are not believed to cause any immediate health problems. The radiographer is responsible for making sure that the radiation dose is kept as low as possible and that the benefits of the x-ray outweigh any risk.
No, we do not offer obstetric ultrasound scans at Prime Health.
An ultrasound scan is a picture of part of the inside of the body. It uses sound waves of a frequency above the audible range of the human ear. A small hand-held sensor pressed carefully against the skin surface generates sound waves and detects any echoes reflected back off the surfaces and tissues of our internal organs. The sensor can be moved over the skin to view the organs from different angles. The images are displayed on a screen and recorded for subsequent study.
We’ll let you know about anything you need to do differently before your scan when we send your appointment letter. For example:
- If your pelvis, kidney or bladder are being scanned, you may need to have a full bladder
- For some scans (such as the gallbladder and pancreas) you may be asked to fast for several hours
- Please let us know in advance if you’ve had another ultrasound scan recently
- If you’re diabetic, please bring some food and your medication to the centre
Yes, you will require a referral from a healthcare professional, such as your GP or a consultant for an ultrasound-guided steroid injection. A physiotherapist can refer you for an ultrasound-guided injection on the advice of a radiologist following an initial MRI or ultrasound scan.If you do not have a referral, please contact our helpful team who will be able to assist.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".
More than 90% of our reports are with your doctor within two days, often on the same day.To book your MRI scan with Prime Health - click here
nSTRIDE stimulates a powerful healing response and should only take a short while to make a difference. Generally, people will notice an improvement in their symptoms within 2-6 weeks following the injection. The best results are achieved when the injection is combined with exercise and lifestyle changes, and therapies such as shockwave therapy are used which as a result can further enhance the healing response.
After a steroid injection, the reduction in pain and inflammation in the affected joint should last for up to several months.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".
Clinical studies show a single nSTRIDE injection can significantly reduce inflammation and pain associated with knee arthritis for up to two years.
The gastric balloon weight-loss programme lasts for approximately 6 months.
