Is paying for a digital scan photo now standard on the NHS?

[renovationqueen]

I had my 12 week scan last week and I'm still reeling at the cost of the pictures!

First time parents so obviously all very exciting and we were so giddy that everything was proceeding as expected. When we were finished with the scan the sonographer gave us a sheet with a QR code to scan for pictures.

I scanned it while waiting for my blood test and it was £8.50 per image (!!) which I thought was outrageous but obviously we paid for our favourite one. Only to then find out it was just a digital image that we 'can print at home'. I was so disappointed to not get a physical scan copy.

I know that each trust is different - have I just got really unlucky? 😂

In Southampton it’s £5 per photo so each time we have paid for one but actually we have then got a reel of 4 or 5 different ones.

I wouldn’t say it’s a tacky momento at all. I really value these photos and are the only images we have of our babies for such a long time and happy to pay that small amount for them.

Can’t remember how much it was 6yrs ago but remember thinking it was steep. We only wanted 1 so wasn’t too bad. When we had our second child 4yrs ago they gave us the photo for free with a pitying look that we didn’t have anyone interested in the photos so only wanted the one.

I do agree with charging for them as most people in the waiting room wanted several copies and had already had a few kids previously. Multiplied over the year that’s a lot of money!

I was far more outraged at the cost of school photos. £25 for 1 digital photo 😱

I think i got some free because they printed them all,

It is a memento an image of their baby and they are only available after the medical examination of the fetus, nothing like moonpig.

For some parents, it's the only image of their child they'll ever have.

11 years ago for me there was a charge. I wouldn't have bothered but DH wanted one. 9 years ago they weren't printing them at all but invited you to photograph the screen.

Again I didn't bother. I never had any emotional attachment to scan photos. Was purely medical for me.

I was charged with my pregnancies - 2008 and 2011 but it was a print out of 4. I think it was £12 but I was more annoyed I had to walk to the hospital’s main reception to pay, which wasn’t near the maternity unit. It might have been £6 each as I had twins.

We paid a fiver for a single print out. They didn’t take cash either so had to trek around trying to find a cash point.

I’ve never had to pay and have always been given lots. Maybe it’s nhs trust specific? I’ve never heard any of my friends having to pay either. I wouldn’t be annoyed about it as long as you could get the printout once you’d paid, only getting the digital version is really unfair imo

I had my baby last year (in Scotland) and got a string of physical photos for free at every scan, including growth scans.

I didnt realise other people had to pay. Post code lotteries shouldn't exist within the NHS.

For many people that ‘tacky little memento’ is the only time they will ever see their child.

The utter snobbery and lack of humanity in some people is truly astounding

It was free (in my trust) when I had my first 2 kids, 24 and 26 years ago, when I had my youngest 15 years ago it was £3.50. They gave us the pics then sent us to the reception to pay. Which was all closed up and no one around! 🤷‍♀️

Mine was free a few weeks ago and they gave me 8 photos

Wait until you get to primary school.

My kids are 18 and 21 - can't remember how much but we definitely paid a few quid for the printed out photos of scans. I don't think we had the option of digital ones back then.
I don't think they are tacky at all - its the first memory of your baby! I still have them along with all the other "firsts" photos.

We had our children in 1994 & 1996 and we had to pay a fee for scan photos.

I paid 30 years ago. And quite right too. Why should the taxpayer pay for a luxury like that?

I think most people who haven't had to pay are just surprised that others do. I can see the logic in charging, just had no idea it happened!

Seems perfectly reasonable to me. Wait till you see what a professional photographer will charge! Supplying you with images is not a medical need, does not improve anyone's health and should not be funded from NHS budgets. £8.50 seems about right given that it was £5 seventeen years ago - seems like it's just about kept pace with inflation (would be £8.71 with perfect inflation tracking)

Same. I never paid when I had mine 12 years ago. I thought you only paid if you went and had 3D photos done privately.

I remember paying 25 years ago,I want to say it was £5 but can't quite remember,it felt really expensive at the time.

But the sonographer is already being paid!! And does not have to take a really skilful picture, just any old shot where the baby's face is in profile will do.

It is perfectly reasonable to charge for costs. That's about 30 seconds of the sonographer's time, and a contribution to printer, ink and paper. Whatever that cost is should be what it costs. It shouldn't be a money making exercise.

Exactly this. The photo we got at our early scan is dear to me because it's all we have of that baby, who was no longer with us by the time of our next appointment. To call it a tacky memento is pretty hurtful.

I think it's reasonable to charge.

I think calling them 'tacky' is harsh - everyone is different and some people like those photos.

Personally, I wish there weren't such an expectation that everyone will want them. I had an embryo transfer where the clinic shoved a picture and a box of chocolates at me and I found it really upsetting - I was perfectly well aware it wasn't necessarily going to work and I found it manipulative. At my 12-week scan I said yes to a photo because it seemed to be expected. Since then I've had an absolute ton of scans (geriatric IVF pregnancy) and some sonographers seem almost put out if you say no, actually, I don't want a photo thanks. They're clearly expecting you to want one, but if you don't, that shouldn't require comment.

My local hospital has the kiosks for you to pay but the sonographers tend to just print out anyway and only charge if you want extra