• Reference Number: HEY1549/2025
• Departments: Radiology
• Last Updated: 30 June 2025

Introduction

You have been referred by your GP under the Rapid Diagnostic Service (RDS) pathway. This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your referral. Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your doctor but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the health care team who has been caring for you.

What is the Rapid Diagnostic Service (RDS)?

You have presented to your GP with vague symptoms. These symptoms are probably nothing to worry about but sometimes could be signs of a cancer.  You have been referred along a rapid pathway to have some tests and hopefully rule this out.  Your GP should arrange a blood test, urine test and a stool test call a FIT test.  It is important to return this stool test back to your GP as soon as possible.

You will receive an appointment for investigations from radiology, this will usually include ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis, and chest x-ray. These tests can detect abnormalities but are also important to help reassure you and your doctor that there are no abnormalities present.

You may be in the Radiology Department for up to an hour.

What is an Ultrasound Scan?

An ultrasound scan is a type of scan that uses high frequency sound waves to provide information about the organs within your abdomen.

You will be asked to lay on an examination couch in a darkened room. The professional undertaking your scan will either be a sonographer or a supervised trainee. They will introduce themselves and explain the procedure before they start. There may be an imaging support worker in the room as well. They are there to help you and the sonographer. You may ask them to leave if you would prefer not to be accompanied.

The sonographer will complete a short questionnaire with you to gather some more information regarding your symptoms. You will be asked to expose your abdomen. You may also be asked to expose your neck or groin depending on the answers that you give to the questionnaire. We advise you wear lose fitting clothing so that it does not need to be removed. Cool gel is placed on your skin and a probe is moved around. Gentle pressure is required to obtain the best images. The images are displayed on a monitor which the sonographer uses to interpret the findings. Once the examination is completed you will be given tissue to wipe away the gel.

You will be required to fast for 6 hours prior to your ultrasound scan. This means no food and no drinks with milk. Water, black tea or black coffee are allowed. You will also be required to attend the scan with a full bladder.

What is a Chest X-Ray?

A chest x-ray is a type of diagnostic imaging that uses ionizing radiation in the form of x-rays to provide information about the organs in your chest. You are advised to wear clothing without buttons or metal if you can. If this is not possible you will be asked to change into a hospital gown.

The radiographer will help you to move into the position that will help them to obtain the best image of your chest. You will be asked to breathe in and hold your breath for a short amount of time. The radiographer will then check the image to ensure that it has all the information needed for the doctor or reporting radiographer to look at. If there is not enough information, you may need to have another x-ray taken. This does not mean that there is anything wrong.

The radiographer who performs your x-ray will not be able to give you any results, it will be reported and reviewed by a doctor, then your results will be communicated to you by your GP or by a specialist nurse attached to the RDS team.

What happens when I arrive?

When you arrive in the department, please check in at the reception desk where you will be booked in and asked to sit in the waiting area. Please aim to arrive at the department 15 minutes prior to your appointment time

You will be called into the ultrasound room, and the sonographer will go through the questionnaire with you.  The ultrasound scan will then be performed. The sonographer will interpret the images and give you your results. You will then have a chest x-ray. The radiographer may ask you some further questions based on the answers you provided in your questionnaire.

Once the test(s) have been performed you can eat and drink as normal.

What happens afterwards?

When all tests in the radiology department have been performed, the results will be sent to a radiologist (a specialist imaging consultant) to review all the tests and provide a report with advice for your GP. The radiologist will inform your GP if you require any further are recommended.

Occasionally you might receive an appointment for further tests before you have spoken to your GP.  This does necessarily mean there is an abnormality; In most cases this is because more information is required to understand your health status. Your GP will explain all your results to you and explain what further tests you may need, (if any).

When you have received all of your tests, please contact your GP practice in about a week to see if anything further action is required.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the Ultrasound Department on: tel: 01482 624044