Nhs Scan Charges

[HighlandMam1]

Hi everyone!

I'm just being rather nosey and wondering where you're all based and whether or not you have to pay for your NHS ultrasound pictures?

I live in highland and received a letter along side my scan date informing me there is a charge of £5 for one scan picture or £10 for 3 pictures! Just curious if all areas charge for pictures? I'm quite surprised the charges haven't been scrapped at present seen as partners/support aren't able to attend due to restrictions!

Sorry folks I think I should have made my first post clear! I have no issue with paying for my scan pictures whatso ever I was just curious if the cost is the same throughout the country or if they vary!! Clearly they vary or don't exist in some places. My friend was surprised when I said I'd better make sure I take my purse with me as she lives in central Scotland and didn't have to pay. I just find this quite interesting and wonder if it is to do with local area funding!
I do feel sadness for those who perhaps aren't fortunate enough to be able to cover the cost regardless but even more so if their partner or support network can't be present due to the restrictions.

Charging for scan pics is an absolute travesty. Mine have been free (couldn't get a good shot at 12-week, and 20-week was during lockdown) but if I have DC2 under normal circumstances I just won't pay. Massive rip off. How much does it cost them really, to print out a couple of flimsy pics? Daylight robbery.

I'm in Kent, no mention on my email that I will have to pay.. guess I'll find out on Monday!

£5 a picture here usually, cash only so always mad dash to get to cash point before appointment with baby no 1 and first but if this pregnancy.

With covid and no partners allowed in, my hospital is now giving free photos but previously you asked the sonographer for them and they'd give them to the receptionist who'd charge you and make a note that you'd paid before handing them over

In many countries of the world you would have to pay for the scan itself, around £200. I never begrudged paying for the scan photos as they are clearly not medically necessary for you to walk away with.

I would worry that someone who couldn’t afford the photos will be struggling a lot to pay for the cost of a baby. I do hope that women who can’t afford it are directed towards appropriate resources for help with baby essentials. Does anyone know if this is the case, or would this be something that the midwife would do rather than the sonography service?

I'm a sonographer for the nhs. We charge £5 per picture. It is pretty standard throughout the NHS to charge for pictures. Thermal paper isn't free or cheap and still costs money during a pandemic.
Instead of moaning about it, why not join a campaign for better funding from the government for your local maternity unit.

I would worry that someone who couldn’t afford the photos will be struggling a lot to pay for the cost of a baby. I do hope that women who can’t afford it are directed towards appropriate resources for help with baby essentials

Here in Scotland everyone is encouraged to get their baby box with lots of essentials in it. Midwives also ask about financial circumstances and can signpost.

@BruceWilllis

I'm a sonographer for the nhs. We charge £5 per picture. It is pretty standard throughout the NHS to charge for pictures. Thermal paper isn't free or cheap and still costs money during a pandemic. Instead of moaning about it, why not join a campaign for better funding from the government for your local maternity unit.

I don’t begrudge paying. I know what it’s like to work in a sector that is severely underfunded.

Mine were £3 each back in 2003 and £4 each in 2010/2011. This was Surrey & Norfolk.

I didn't mind paying for them. NHS has better things to pay for IMO.

My hospital usually charges £5 but didn't hlat my 12 week scan due to coronavirus. Like PPs have said, I don't mind paying either. The scan is a health check and a photo is a nice extra not something people should feel entitled to.

Yeah we had to pay once but I had a slightly higher risk pregnancy and had to have regular scans (so many it wasn't as much fun after all and became unnecessarily anxiety provoking!) . My husband was away for his dads funeral for some of the time and couldn't take that much time off work so missed a couple.

I always mentioned to the sonographer where he was (family and friends not local had to go alone) so they wouldn't start worrying or judging me which I know was silly. But anyway they always printed off pics for me and just gave them without mentioning money.

So I have quite a few

So I meant to say it was £12 I think, when we paid. And it was about 5 pics.

Live in NI and don't need to pay for the scan photos!

There is no charge for the scan! The scan is to check the growth and health of baby, and you aren't charged in any way, other than paying through taxation.
There is a cost for a printout, because that's not an essential, and printing costs time and money.
It's an added extra, they should be able to recoup the costs IMO.

I got 4 free yesterday. Still had to pay for parking

Last time we had to pay at 12 weeks (think it was about £3 a photo) but not at 20 weeks - the 20 week photos were crap though so maybe she felt sorry for us!

Our first scan was £20 for four photos but the others were by donation.

@OhhhPeee I had a discussion with my HV about baby boxes. HVs in my area of London and I know in other regions can now see you at about 28 weeks.

I got 5 prints for free. Good luck!

I paid £10 for 5 photos at 20 weeks.

I got the feeling that if you were known to be vulnerable socio economically then you wouldn't have to pay.

£6 a picture at my hospital, though its not really clear how/where to pay. I got couple of pics since my OH wasnt allowed to attend. I didnt choose the pics, the sonographer just randomly printed out a couple. At the end when I had my bloods taken I asked the nurse where I should pay and she advised me not to bother! :D

When I had my first child 23 years ago the scan photos were £2 each with a limit of purchasing two. The same clinic now charges £4 with a maximum purchase of 5 photos.

In highlands too and just a reminder to take exact money as they dont give change. The one I went to in are quite good she tried to get "nice" pics as we were buying them.

I was given pics at the 12 week scan and had to pay at the 20 week - I think it's fair enough, it's not like it's a core service of the NHS to give you pictures of your unborn child.

Jesus Christ, based on some of the attitudes on here I’m not surprised the NHS is on its knees. A scan photo is not part of essential healthcare, it is an added extra. If your trust is nice enough to faff about maintaining special printers, buying special paper etc the least you can do is pay a few £ to cover their expenses.

In my area it's been the case for years however seemed to be a few exceptions - with eldest I had extra scans as had fertility treatment - I only paid for the standard scans (12 & 20 week ones). When I had twins had loads of scans and never paid a penny as they said it'd cost me a small fortune if I paid every time.