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? 😂

Do you expect to take away free printouts from any other NHS medical scans you have?

Never had to pay (17-21 years ago) so does seem a bit postcode lottery, which is wrong

I would not mind paying at all though - totally worth it

@MyThreeWords bit of a thoughtless comment. You probably didn’t consider those for whom it will be the only photo they ever get. Or those who have seen too many empty sacs and finally get an image which has a heartbeat

For some, those images are infinitely precious and not just a tacky memento

Posts like this remind me why the NHS is in such a dire state. The sheer level of entitlement is quite shocking.
The scan is a diagnostic medical procedure, not a state provided jolly, I’m sure you can stretch to £8 if you also want a souvenir.

Every hospital does this differently.
some give them for free others you have to pay, depends on the scheme they use.
over 5 pregnancies in 21 years I’ve had to pay for all of mine starting at £1 to £5.
we have our 12 week scan on Friday and they have stated in the letter that if we want a picture it will be £5.

Sorry if some people think I'm being entitled for wanting a physical copy of a picture I've already paid £8.50 for. If that fee genuinely covered printing and administration costs, I'd completely understand. But charging the same amount to just email a digital copy of an image that has already been taken feels excessive to me.
I agree that the NHS is under huge pressure, but that isn't really the point of my post.
And quite frankly the suggestion that it's a 'tacky momento' is one of the more insensitive things I've ever seen on here (which is saying a lot).

I got a letter inviting me for the scan that told me to buy tokens for the photos but then the sonographer just gave them out anyway (she gave me 5). I think the machine might be broken but it was the same situation 4 years ago too so that's a lot of money they NHS is missing out on for not fixing the token machine. I'd pay for a scan picture even if it was £8, it's proof that there's actually something in there! Also, very handy if you want to try and guess the gender.

You can print a copy in Boots for about 50p.

I think it's a perfectly sensible way for the NHS to make some extra cash by charging over the odds for a luxury.

But very many people who use the services of the NHS are going through the most terrible experiences of bereavement, or adjustment to other life-changing medical traumas. There is no expectation in any other NHS service that any kind of memorial will be provided. It just isn't their role.

I wasn’t saying they have to provide it, and certainly not for free

I was making the point that calling them tacky was a bit insensitive for those who have had stillbirths or miscarriages

Agreed, many people face terrible issues including bereavement in hospitals, but they usually already have photos taken before that time

Think it was £5 21 years ago!

i paid £5, for the print out it was 12years ago

We paid about £5 for printed photos 18 years ago. £8.50 for digi ones feels ok in comparison.

I'm glad we didn't have to pay for one of mine as DS looked like an earwig! God knows how they managed to get that shot! One of the photos we had was perfect though and they even put it in a cute frame all at no cost!