How Much Is a Private CT Scan? Your Guide to CT Scan Costs

If you're looking for a CT scan (Computed Tomography), the costs can play a part in deciding where to go, especially for self-paying patients.

Scan.com helps you to find convenient private CT scanning locations near you, compare prices, and consider booking a private CT scan.

Not sure if you need a CT scan?

Book a consultation with our clinical team to discuss your health concern, and find out whether a CT, ultrasound or MRI scan is best for your needs. If you do need a CT scan, you'll receive a referral letter to use on Scan.com.

How much does a CT scan cost?

Standard CT scan (1 body part)

A standard CT scan costs from £420 up to around £800. Prices vary depending on the scanning centre, where it is situated, and the type of scan. Some CT scans require a contrast dye or specialist staff which can increase the price.

Multiple-part CT scans

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis costs around £800 for both body areas.

Specialist CT scans

Specialist CT scans, such as a CT Coronary Angiogram can cost up to £1500. This is because they require special equipment, contrast material, and may also require specialist doctors to interpret the CT scan images and write a report detailing the results of the scan.

Does a private CT scan cost more than a private MRI scan?

Generally, an MRI scan is cheaper than a CT scan, but they have different purposes and safety considerations. This means that you shouldn't just choose the cheapest scan - you should select the right option based on your medical history and current symptoms.

For example, a CT scan uses x-rays and cannot be repeated too often due to the potential negative effects of ionising radiation, such a minimally increased risk of cancer later in life. Meanwhile, an MRI machine uses magnets that make MRI scans unsuitable for some people with metal in their body, or medical devices and implants such as cochlear implants or pacemakers.

You can find out more about the differences between CT scans and MRI scans by reading our guide, or book a consultation with a clinician to discuss which option is best for you.

Do I have to pay more to access my scan images?

With Scan.com, your CT scan images, imaging report, and an AI-generated interactive report are all included within the price of your scan, with no hidden costs. You also receive a pre scan appointment and a follow-up appointment with our clinical team to discuss your symptoms and then the results.

How much does a CT scan cost?: UK NHS vs Private

The NHS' CT scans are free at the point of care. Complex CT scans can cost the NHS over £1000, which includes equipment, staff time, administrative processes including scheduling and reporting, and the technology needed to carry all of this out.

How much does a CT scan machine cost?

A new CT scanner can cost NHS and private hospitals up to £500,000 and has a lifespan of around 8-10 years. Refurbished medical equipment is available at lower price points.

A CT scanner looks like a donut-shaped ring. It has a flat bed that moves in and out of the scanner. Inside the scanner walls, there's an X-ray tube that emits an X-ray beam. The scanner ring rotates the beam from the tube around your body. Receivers on the opposite side of the ring measure how much of the x-ray energy passes through different parts of your body, which helps create images of the inside of your body, due to the different amounts of energy that pass through bone vs soft tissues.

How can I find the cheapest CT scans near me?

If you need a CT scan, it's easy to find and book a CT scan via Scan.com, and get guidance from a healthcare professional included in your CT scanning package. Find out how much private CT scans cost near you by searching the whole of the UK in just a few clicks.

What is a CT scan?

A CT scan is a type of imaging test used to create detailed images of the inside of your body. CT stands for computerised tomography (or computed tomography in the U.S.), and can also be referred to as a CAT scan (computerised axial tomography).

What does a CT scan show?

CT scans are normally recommended for imaging of the chest cavity, bone fractures, spotting and staging a cancerous tumour, and for measuring the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Our most common CT scans are: chest CT scan, brain CT scan, and Coronary Angiogram scan.

It can be used to capture images of the entire body very quickly, which makes it a useful modality in trauma and emergency settings. It can also be used to look at the blood vessels, check for internal bleeding, and assess the health of some internal organs including the heart and lungs.

Sometimes a special dye called a contrast agent is used to highlight certain parts of the body, such as internal organs, blood vessels, or surrounding tissues more vividly.

Some people have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye, so it is important to complete the safety questionnaire carefully, and you will be required to provide recent blood test results to verify your kidney function is adequate before having a CT scan with contrast.

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