This booklet uses easy words and pictures to tell you what will happen when you go for an CT scan.
You might want to ask someone to help you read it.
Your doctor needs you to have a CT scan
A CT scan takes pictures of the inside of your body.
When you arrive at the Radiology department, the receptionist will ask you for your name.
You will be asked to sit in the waiting area until someone is ready to see you.
The waiting room may be busy.
You may be asked to put on a hospital gown.
You will be taken to a changing room.
If you need help getting changed, please ask.
You will need to take off your jewellery.
The x-ray staff are called Radiographers.
The radiographer will take you into the room for your scan.
The scanner looks like a big donut with a hole in it. It has a special bed for you to lie on. It is a bit like going through a tunnel.
Having a CT scan does not hurt.
Sometimes people have an injection of a liquid called contrast.
This goes into your veins through the needle.
You need to lay still during the scan.
The scan usually lasts between 2 and 15 minutes.
You will be on your own in the scanning room for short periods.
Please tell staff if you need someone with you at all times.
The bed will move and you will pass through the scanner.
You will be able to talk to the staff all the time.
Once the scan is finished you have to wait 15 minutes.
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.
You can put your jewellery back on.
You can now go home.
You will be asked to come back to the hospital, or go to your GP surgery, for the results.
Queries about appointments call the booking office 01274 365499.
You can contact us using the Relay UK app. Textphone users will need to dial 18001 before the number to be contacted.
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.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free organisation. You are not permitted to smoke or in use e-cigarettes in any of the hospital buildings or grounds.
