Cardiac MRI in the SE

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Hi guys.

I'm attempting to obtain a class 1 medical. The CAA require an MRI of my aorta (I have a borderline coarctation). The problem is I'm going to have to get it done privately, and it's proving difficult to find somewhere to get it done at a reasonable price.

So far I've had a quote from uks medical diagnostics. The guy I'm in contact with so far is helpful but the best he's found so far is a quote of ~£2200, which is outragous. He agrees and is trying to find another hospital I can go to with a more reasonable rate, but I'm getting fustraited.

Does anyone have any ideas where I can go that isn't extorsionate?

[Qwikstop]

Check your PMs.

[A pair with balance]

Hi guys,
the CAA have asked me to undergo a cardiac mri and I also have been quoted approx £2200.
Any info on places around the SE (I'm LGW based) where I could enquire about this scan and hopefully find a less expensive option would be greatly welcomed.
Flamin Squirrel - did you find anywhere?
Thanks and regards

[fantom]

01293 776996

David Tallent. Talk to him - ex CAA medic and excellent AME. At Gatwick.

[Bob the Doc]

£2200 sounds about right to me. Not a private radiologist or anything but from memory (and these were rough estimates a few years ago)

Plain film Chest X-Ray - About £100
CT scan of Head - About £400
MRI scan of same head - About £1000

Cardiac MRI is pretty specialised so you may find the people offering it few and far between and so the cost may be consequently pretty high

Sorry to disappoint but would be happy to be proved wrong

[A pair with balance]

Thanks for the info :-)
Looks like I'll have to dig deep into my pockets then.

[PJ500]

You will almost certainly get this examination cheaper by going to a hospital such as Kings or the Royal Brompton who has a radiologist specialising in cardiac MRI. Most NHS radiology departments carry out privately referred exams on an out-of-hours basis and are keen to generate the income. I work as a hospital radiographer so PM me if you struggle finding anywhere and I'll ask around. Regards and good luck.

[homonculus]

Perhaps but not necessarily. I find the NHS private practice offices often charge more.

The price I would expect my patients to pay in Central London is between £700 and £1500 depending on what is required. You may need to be injected with a drug called gadolinium and the price is calculated by the number of 'parts' or the complexity. One part is £700. So nobody can give you a price without seeing the referral letter or request form unless they are just charging on the safe side.

Outside London everyone expects prices to be lower, but this is not necessarily true with MRI as most of the costs are identical

PM me if you would like a firm price based on the above

Best wishes