- Reference Number: HEY1550/2025
- 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?
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 called a FIT test. It is important to return this stool test back to your GP as soon as possible.
Prior to your scan appointment a member of our specialist nursing team will telephone you to perform a triage call. This will help us to better understand your current symptoms and ensure we are conducting the right tests at the right time. Please feel free to ask any questions or raise any concerns you might have at this time.
You will receive an appointment for investigations from radiology to be carried out at the community diagnostic centre (CDC), this will include an initial chest x-ray and ultrasound of your abdomen and pelvis. Depending on the results of these initial tests a CT scan may be recommended which can be performed while you are with us at the CDC. These tests can detect abnormalities but can also be used to reassure you and your doctor that there are no abnormalities present.
You will be in the Radiology Department for up to 2 hours depending on the tests you require.
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 and 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 your body 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 reviewed and reported by a senior clinician while you are in the CDC.
What is a CT scan?
A CT scanner acquires detailed images of your body using a x-ray and a special dye which is injected through a cannula. This helps us see parts of your body that may be difficult to see. As with chest x-rays 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 or support worker will show you into the prep room where a small cannula is fitted in your hand or arm. This is a tiny port which allows access to a vein to introduce the contrast dye.
You will then be shown into the scan room and asked to lay comfortably on your back on the CT scanner bed. The scanner is like a large polo mint. The hole is almost three feet wide and only about ten inches deep, so you are not at all confined. If you feel anxious about things, you are welcome to telephone the department and speak to a member of staff or arrange to come and have a look at the machine for yourself.
Generally, you will lie on your back with your arms by your side (depending on what body part is being scanned). You will be asked to remain still during the scan to acquire the best possible images.
When the scanner is working it makes loud tapping noises. You will be given some ear protection. This will be either soft earplugs or headphones. The radiographer will be always watching you from the control room during your scan. There is also a two-way speaker, and you can talk to the radiographer if you want. You will be given a call buzzer so you can contact the radiographer at any time during your scan.
Depending on the scan we are doing the procedure can take between 10 and 30 minutes.
We may ask you to stay in the CT department for 10 minutes after your scan. The injection has been used for many years throughout the world without any serious complications. Very rarely local stinging may occur where the needle was placed. If you experience any problems, please tell a member of staff before you leave the building.
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.
To begin you will be called into the x-ray room to have your chest x-ray. Once complete you will be shown to the ultrasound room, and the sonographer will go through a questionnaire with you. The ultrasound scan will then be performed. The sonographer will interpret the images and write a report.
We will then ask you to sit and wait for a brief time while the chest x-ray and ultrasound reports are produced (usually no more than 30 minutes). If your GP has requested some blood tests which are yet to be completed, we will use this time to take some blood in the phlebotomy room.
What happens afterwards?
Once the report from the ultrasound and x-ray have been produced a senior member of the RDS team will sit and discuss them with you in a private room. Depending on the results of the initial ultrasound and chest x-ray you may be discharged or asked to remain at the CDC for an additional CT scan. This is sometimes necessary to acquire more information in order to better understand your current health status and does not necessarily mean an abnormality has been found. The RDS personnel caring for you will be able to listen and respond to any questions you have at this time. If a CT scan is required, the scans will be read by a radiologist (specialist doctor) who will produce a report at a later time. After your CT scan you will be able to leave the CDC and the RDS team will produce a report which will be sent to your GP.
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.
