Easy Read

This booklet uses easy words and pictures.

You might want to ask someone to help you read it.

Ultrasound scan

Your doctor has said you need an ultrasound scan.

Look inside your body

An ultrasound scan is a picture of inside your body to see how it is working.

Does it hurt?

Having an ultrasound scan does not hurt.

Where will I have the scan?

You will have the ultrasound scan in hospital.

Instructions

You might be asked to follow some instructions before your ultrasound scan.

Your instructions

The instructions you are given will depending on what part of your body is being scanned.

Write down

Ask your nurse or doctor to tell you what you need to do before your scan.

They can write this down for you.

Clothes

Wear baggy, comfortable clothes

Reception

When you arrive at the Radiology department, the receptionist will ask you for your name.

Waiting area

You will be asked to sit in the waiting area until someone is ready to see you.

The waiting room may be busy.

We will try to make sure you do not wait a long time. But it can get busy sometimes.

Wearing a gown

You may be asked to put on a hospital gown.

Changing room

You will be taken to a changing room.

Get changed

If you need help getting changed, please ask.

Take jewellery off

You will need to take off your jewellery.

Sonographer 

The sonographer will take you into the room when it is your turn for your ultrasound scan.

Support

A family member, friend or carer can usually go with you if you want
them to.

Tell someone

If you are scared or nervous, tell a member
of staff who will try to help you.

What will happen?

You will be asked to lie down on a bed or trolley.

Remove jelly

When you are comfortable, the member of staff will put some jelly on your skin.

This might be cold but it won’t hurt.

The scan

The member of staff will then rub the ultrasound probe on your skin.

This will show them a picture of inside your body.

How long does it take?

The scan should take between 15 minutes and 45 minutes.

After the scan

After the scan, the member of staff will rub the jelly off your skin.

Get changed

Once the CT is finished you will go back to the changing room where you can change back into your own clothes.

Please ask if you need any help.

Put jewellery on

You can put your jewellery back on.

You can leave

When you are dressed you can go home or go back to the ward if you are staying in hospital. 

Your results

You will be asked to come back to the hospital, or go to your GP surgery for the results.

Contact details

Queries about appointments call the booking office 01274 365499.

Some of the images in this information resource have been taken from the ‘easy on the i’ image bank. Copyright ©LYPFFT. The remaining images were created by Medical Illustration ©BTHFT.