Urgent MRI is a 12 week wait

[Shallysally]

My DD is having really painful headaches, been going on for the last 4 weeks. GP has referred for an urgent MRI scan.

She has chased this today and been informed that it will be a 12 week wait. I know services are so backlogged. I’m really worried about her.
I’ll look at a private scan but expecting this to be around £500?

I’m not about queue jumping, but I’m asking here is there any way other than paying privately to get her seen quicker?

How old is your DD? Is her eye test upto date? Optoms are very good at spotting anything irregular. I have had many private MRI’s, the reason
I ask your DD age, is whether she may need sedation for the scan, as MRI you need to be very still. Sometimes finding a private hospital that will treat paediatrics isn’t always easy, so say you are self funding, unless you have private medical insurance. My DS had a private MRI, also for headaches when he was 6, he didn’t have sedation, Neurologist said borderline usually recommends sedation upto 7. DS coped fine, and the results were fine. I hope your DD is feeling better soon.

Ah thank you @Roselilly36. DD is 17. Yes first thing we did was a sight test. She needed a slight increase on her prescription but not a big change.
I did explain re her headaches so the optician was aware.

She is making a conscious effort to drink more water, wear her glasses more of the time and has tried to reduce screen time, although this isn’t easy as she has course work constantly due for hand in.

I’ve contacted Vista and they are quoting £350, which is just about affordable.

I needed a CT scan recently and was offered a date in mid March. I called to ask if they had any earlier cancellations and I had my scan the very next day! Worth trying.

Oh really? Thanks @misslooloo thats definitely worth a try.

I’ve just contacted the GP to ask if they would be willing to send the referral to the private company. Spoke to the receptionist who suggested to go to A and E if her pain is bad.
So that is another option. Our hospital had an urgent care unit who can request same day scans. So a couple of options.

Definitely worth asking for a cancellation, even if at very short notice, if you can do it. I have had MRI scans on Saturdays, Sundays, late in the evening etc. it’s a very long wait, for an urgent scan. £350 sounds a good price, I had a look at the Nuffield (where I had private scans, they charge around £510 for MRI Head) good luck I hope DD gets an appointment soon.

Apparently vista charge £350 per body part 😂
Joking apart, I am really worried. Plan is that I’m going to ring the MRI appointments tomorrow and ask re a cancellation. If her head is still bad then I might consider the a and e route. She is saying that she isn’t going to college tomorrow if she’s still in a lot of pain.

Paracetamol isn’t really touching it, she’s reluctant to take ibuprofen as she’s had history of bleeding.

@misslooloo thank you so much for your advice re cancellation. I contacted the MRI department and asked if DD could be put on the cancellation list.
Within half an hour I received a call asking if she can attend for 7.30 am tomorrow!

Needless to say she is not feeling getting up at 6! But we are just grateful that she doesn’t need to wait so long.

Oh that’s great! So glad you’re sorted. I hope it all goes well x

Thank you! x

Glad you got an appointment so quickly. Wishing your daughter all the best

Thank you @naturemumma

That’s brilliant news, hopefully it’s all done now OP keeping everything crossed for the results, good luck.

I used vista, it was £350 and was the gateway for treatment- if you can afford it- do it. Then take the scan and the report to your dr.

@Roselilly36 yes all done. Thank you, really hope we aren’t waiting weeks for the results.

@Mxflamingnoravera thanks for the info. DD has had her scan this morning as had a cancellation appt.
I’ll definitively save vistas details for the future though. Glad they were good for you.