You have to pay for ultrasound photo in uk?

[DonnaLlyn]

How much does it cost for your ultrasound photo? I hope they print it off on nice photographic paper then, if they're going to charge for as little as printing off an image!

I paid in Scotland, this was as recent as March. We have to pay to park too, and got a parking ticket as my labour was so long....

cheesecakemom if it isn't free it's still a lot cheaper than in some countries. even if you're paying for prescriptions it's £7 for a drug that could potentially be hundreds of pounds. I know what I would rather pay and would class that as near enough "free"

I don't think 'nice pictures' are their highest priority really.

Healthcare is free at the point of use.

Free today at UCLH. I didn't see a donation box anywhere when queuing up to make next scan appointment. Think DH was encouraged to donate a tenner when I was preg with DD at C&W in 2011.

Cheesecake - the NHS does provide pretty much a free service, even to multimillionaires. The fact that a prescription costs unless you suffer certain illnesses, are pregnant or on benefits, doesn't really stop it being classed as a free health service (that's how the rest of the world view it). Dental work (that doesn't come under hospital treatment) does cost stupid amounts though but then I don't really class that as mainstream healthcare.

I don't see how it can be considered to be condescending. Healthcare is free at the point of use. It isn't actually free but like other services such as school aged education, the police service and the fire service it is free at the point of use. As the OP is a low earner (I'm presuming that as she can't afford the photos and is working several jobs) then she will be getting more out of the system than she is paying in (certainly when her child starts school).
Many people, including those working and paying taxes, are effectively benefitting from free or heavily subsidised public services including health services.
If people don't like paying for luxuries offered on top of a basic public service then they have the option of moving to another country and paying for a private health service and not paying their taxes for something that they deem to be ripping them off. I know which option is most effective for me and my family.

^ most cost effective.

At my hospital they ask for about £3, and have signs explaining how they goes towards improvements in the sonography dept, such as extra screens for viewing the scan etc

Also, the photo was on fairly thin paper and they say you can't laminate it as the heat wrecks the image.

As a sonographer I would like to add my input to this thread...

Firstly, it is not permitted to photograph or film images of the scan as was suggested earlier, please do not do this!

Secondly, yes some trusts are charging a lot for scans and I agree £10 is rather steep. Where I work the money goes towards equipment and funding the training of new staff. In times where money is so tight, it has to come from somewhere.

We really aren't obliged to tell people the gender of the baby or get them a good scan photo, our job is to carry a medical examination. However, we do these "extras" with pleasure (and often finish late because of this) because we appreciate how important it is to expectant parents and enjoy sharing the happiness with them. I would hate to think that anyone in the UK thinks they are being ripped off by the service provided by their NHS hospital, even the ones who charge more than average for scan photos. You would struggle to find better value for money anywhere else in the world I promise you!

At my local hospital (in Scotland) we were invited to give a donation on the way out, but there was no pressure. Given the donation is to help fund things in the maternity hospital I have no issue at all with making a donation. DH was so overcome with emotion he gave £20 at the 12 week scan (and probably didn't have anything smaller) but we didn't give anything at our 20 week scan. We got quite a lot of photos at both, but didn't count them.

Gosh, £10 for some scan photos sounds a good deal to me!

I get about half a dozen photos and a DVD at my 12 and 20 weeks scans, but they do also cost $280 (£150ish)

The NHS is smashing ladies, you should really appreciate not having to pay!!

My local hosp, in East London, it's £4 for 2 photos, but you usually get 3/4 for that- the staff are very lovely there!! (Ones I have dealt with anyway)
It's alarming the variation in prices, I like the idea of a donation box!!

mrsmilkymoo - this might be a little late for you but all hospitals in Scotland (apart from those with PFI car parks, and even then you might still be able to appeal) have a pretty robust appeals process - so that if you are held up legitimately due to a medical emergency your ticket should have been cancelled.

Sorry, my earlier post should read "charging a lot for scan photos" not for scans! Whoops!

In swindon it was £10 for 4 from different angles but only really 1 was good. It was alot i personally feel but better than £99 for private

At our hospital (in Surrey, if it matters), photos are £3 each, but you do get them in a wee frame inside a greetings card (with random fluffy animals on the front!). Not extortionate in the slightest, and at my 12 week scan she gave us three for the price of one (presumably as they were really unclear). At the 20 week scan we paid for two, but weren't offered any at the growth scan we had at 29 weeks - but I could barely make anything out anyway.
I agree that anything over £5 is a bit much for one photo, but I do think that you'll remember the experience more than the photo anyway. And I also agree that having a free national health service is far more important than scan photos. I shudder to think what it would have cost me to receive all the treatment I have had in my lifetime, were I born in any other country. Gawd bless the NHS!