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Original poster

£5 a scan picture?!

168 replies

CSISaraSidle · 05/07/2018 18:32

I was at my ultrasound scan the other day and decided I'd quite like a picture. When my mum had me she got it in a lovely little card thing with corner cutouts to hold it. It was very sweet, and I assumed mine would be the same!
When I was handed a tear off printout that had been torn badly and was told "that'll be £5, please pay at this machine" I was a little Shock!

OP posts:
LittleMermaidRose · 05/07/2018 21:17

Sounds very expensive to me.. but I always thought they were free haha

deste · 05/07/2018 21:28

My DD gets photos every time she has a scan and has never been charged.

CatLadyToddlerMother · 05/07/2018 21:30

When I had DD they gave me the photos for nothing no idea why as I remember it being advertised as costing £4 a copy

AnotherOriginalUsername · 05/07/2018 21:37

My hospital load the images onto a website and then give you a username and password so that you can download them.

For £10 per flipping download!!

alltoomuchrightnow · 05/07/2018 21:38

Sounds like a bloody bargain to me especially compared to how much the actual baby will cost!
And try being infertile and the costs that can incur.. I'd be quite happy to spend £500 for my own scan pic if it meant I actually was going to give birth... hell, 5k..

Nolagerformethanks · 05/07/2018 21:39

Mine were free, Well I have only had one at 8 and one at 12 weeks so far, never even thought I might have to pay Blush I definitely would of though!I like the donation box idea for hospitals, I bet people would donate!

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 05/07/2018 21:47

I've never been charged for mine, in fact I offered to pay with dc1 and the sonographer did a Confused face at me and just handed them to me! Apparently it's not a thing in my area! Blush

Blondebombsite83 · 05/07/2018 21:51

We got some for free if they were crap images. DH asked them where the money went and they said it was straight back into hospital funding so he paid a bit more for the ones we were charged for.

Oddcat · 05/07/2018 21:58

We used to have a donation box and people just gave what they wanted , until someone stole it .

GrandTheftWalrus · 05/07/2018 22:00

Mine were free in 2016 but that's Scotland. I've never heard of a hospital here charging but I would pay it.

We got 3 scans, 12 weeks and 20 weeks were just profile of the baby.

The growth scan at 33 weeks she managed to get a picture of the baby's face. I'd have happily paid for that one.

JennyBlueWren · 05/07/2018 22:21

Odd how different this is throughout the country. I ended up having lots of scans throughout my pregnancies and at each one they would print off 4or 5 for me to keep for free even though I didn't ask for them and in the last few you couldn't see the whole baby. I think this was excessive but think it would be a shame for someone to feel they couldn't have a picture due to cost.

willstarttomorrow · 05/07/2018 22:48

Cannot remember how much I paid but it was not much. I find it odd that anyone would consider being charged unreasonable and indiactive of how people view the NHS these days. As nice as it is to have a scan photo it is much nicer to have a health service free at the point of delivery for all when really needed.Yep it can seem a bit crap and unfit for purpose at times but when you really need it more often than not it is incredible.

my2bundles · 06/07/2018 12:10

The NHS are struggling as it is. Do you really begrudge paying for a pic that is for your benefit only? When you have a child going in for essential treatment but the waiting lists are long and in the meantime you watch your child suffer I can assure you paying for a scan picture becomes insignificant.

Original poster
CSISaraSidle · 06/07/2018 15:09

Tell your what, 2bundles, why don't you RTFT before commenting so aggressively. If you did you would know that I DON'T begrudge them it.

OP posts:
AgathaMystery · 06/07/2018 15:16

It is £5 per picture where I work & the money pays for the thermal paper for the pictures. It costs a bomb.

Our machine for the tokens was recently vandalised and almost £800 stolen.

safariboot · 06/07/2018 15:52

Sounds like just another sneaky stealth tax to me. Governments have been doing them for years because they think it raises government revenue and voters won't notice.

BlueSapp · 06/07/2018 16:08

I got my pictures for free at scans for all my babies, the 20 week ones were in the little cardboard frames but the others were all just the series of little pictures, about 3/4 each time, of different positions.

ellaV · 06/07/2018 16:10

Mine was £10 from the machine, and I love it. Popped it in a frame at home 😊

problembottom · 06/07/2018 16:13

Mine cost £5 last month, it did come with a nice little card like you describe though, with Baby on the front.

NuttyNutty · 06/07/2018 16:15

Looks like it depends on the hospital as well on who is doing the scan. I got a free picture at 8 week early scan, then free picture in a cute card at 12 week one and also paid 5£ for a picture from 20 week scan, also in a card. I am really happy to have all three as the baby looks completely differently each time Smile.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 06/07/2018 16:20

Mine were free iirc. The nhs shouldn't be making a profit from patients - covering costs is fine, making money from people is not.
I also get very pissed off when posters say the nhs is free. No, it isn't - it's free at the point of delivery but it is most definitely paid for via taxation.

IknowIWBUbut · 06/07/2018 16:29

I can't believe how serious some people are being.

Rainatnight · 06/07/2018 16:33

Um, IWanna, it's hardly profit! I don't think under any definition the NHS could be said to be in profit.

BandTsMummy · 06/07/2018 16:38

I didn't get a picture from my NHS scan last year when I was pregnant. The sonographer said "you've seen the baby, what do you need a picture for?"

To be fair to him, I'd had 2 private scans so I didn't need the picture but the option would have been nice. They normally cost £8 in our hospital though.

butlerswharf · 06/07/2018 16:40

A scan photo is a non NHS service. Of course you should pay. You won't get an ultrasound pic cheaper elsewhere.

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