With significant demands on the healthcare providers and the NHS, patient are finding it increasingly difficult to see a healthcare professional as well as accessing vital diagnostic services. As a result, patients are now seeking alternative sources.

When this involves an MRI scan, the Advanced Diagnostics department in St Josephs Hospital can now offer a self-referral pathway for imaging for patients that meet the specified criteria.

The following criteria will need to be met in order for a self-referral scan to be performed:

• A person over 18 years of age.
• A fully completed questionnaire must be provided.
• The scan must not be to monitor the progress of malignancy.
• The anatomical area to be scanned must be one from the accepted list.
• The patient must provide details of a responsible clinician (GMC or HCPC registered) for the results to go back to for discussion.