How much is private MRI?

[HerosAreUs]

Hi all

Just that really..

My son has developmental delay. He is 4 and a half but developmental age is 0-11months from his recent EHCP assessment. Drs think he has a genetic condition but not sure what. He's had genetic tests done for downs syndrome etc but all came back negative. The docs have requested more tests. He also has mobility issues and muscular fatigue and tremmors. We want him to have an MRI. 1. To see if there are any abnormalities with his brain causing his delays and 2. To check for any muscle or nerve issues causing the mobility problems.
His Dr says he wants to wait for the bloods to come back before doing an MRI but we want one done ASAP as we are very worried about him.
As he is a child he would need to be asleep through the MRI which I know adds to the cost but does anyone know how much a private full body MRI would be for a child?
Thanks!!

A private head mri would usually be £400-£600. It’s the anaesthesia that is the issue. You will need a pre treatment bed on a paed unit, an extra 3 members of staff for the actual GA, the anaesthetic and associated equipment and a bed in post anaesthetic recovery. An outpatient non- contrast head scan you are in and out in 30 minutes - a GA turns it into a 6+ hour job with about 4x the staff. I don’t know how much this costs and the only way to get the answer is to ask a private hospital who can accommodate GA for a quote. MRI conditional anaesthetic equipment is niche and expensive and most private hospitals won’t have it - there isn’t the volume of work to justify it. You would also need the hospital to accept a self referral for a child - this is going to be a real sticking point as an anaesthetist is being asked to put a 4yo under without a neurology referral and idk if anyone would be happy to do that. I imagine the cost it will be similar to a small operation - you need all the same theatre and ward staff but specialist radiologists instead of surgeons, plus the MRI team. If a genetic condition is diagnosed by MRI it makes no sense to send off blood tests that take a year to come back.
You would need a paediatric neuroradiologist to report. In my trust all peads are double reported so ideally you need 2. Tbh I think you’d be better off complaining to PALS that your child’s treatment is being delayed because a test that takes 12 months has been requested over a test that could potentially take place in the next 6 weeks and see if that gets you anywhere. It may be that your consultant is correct and is following national guidelines or that an MRI would be of limited value or that it wouldn’t actually change management but if it was my child I’d be asking the question.

I doubt you’ll be able to get one. As he’s 4, he’ll need a paediatric anaesthetist. And getting one of those is going to be your problem.

Yes he would. It’s safer to have them under GA, at that age rather than sedation, as the airway is properly managed.

You’ll need to be referred because at his age he’ll need sedation or general anaesthetic

In my experience with DS when he was similarly aged this actually costs several thousand under GA. First one was ordered by private ophthalmologist (and thankfully covered under excellent health insurance). Later MRIs were ordered by private neurologist, then he was turned over to the NHS.

My ds had 2 MRIs via nhs but his was genetic and the genetic tests picked up the gene fault.

So it really depends on what they suspect and why they suspect genetic rather than brain damage.

yanbu to want to pay privately. But be sure of why you want to do it rather than wait because sometimes knowing doesn’t change the outcome.

Also as mentioned above it’s important to factor in extras that may our such as report and appointment for results.

If you don’t feel the consultant is acting well enough you can always ask for a second opinion via the nhs.

Sorry you’re having to deal with this. It’s horrible watching and waiting and having no answers.

But from someone who’s been there the answers do t always provide clarity or a solution so look after yourselves in the process.

There's no such thing as a full body mri. You would only scan the bits that are clinically indicated. In a child that is showing GDD that would probably be their brain.

I used to do private GA mri lists in paediatrics a long time ago and was well paid for my time (anaesthetic nurse). I have no idea of the cost to the patient but I'm guessing it would be thousands.