The Medical Imaging department provides an important diagnostic service and supports clinicians from within Barnsley Hospital and outside of the hospital. Medical Imaging is perhaps better known as x-ray or Radiology.
Different technologies are used to view the human body in order to diagnose, monitor or treat medical conditions. Each type of technology gives different information about the area of the body being studied or treated, related to possible disease, injury, or the effectiveness of medical treatment.
At Barnsley Hospital we undertake a wide range of procedures including:
- Plain Film X-ray and dental X-ray
- Ultrasound (General and Obstetrics & Gynaecology)
- CT Scanning
- MRI Scanning
- Nuclear Medicine Scans (for functional imaging of organs)
- Fluoroscopy (studies of internal organs and joints)
- Angiography (studies of blood vessels)
- Mammography (x-rays of the breast)
- DEXA Scans
- Medical Photography
- Children’s X-Ray Services
Alongside our diagnostic services, we also offer a range of therapeutic techniques, including radioactive iodine for thyrotoxicosis, the insertion of tubes for patients on chemotherapy and tubes to drain abscesses and other fluid collections.
We only accept Medical Imaging requests from authorised referrers (you cannot refer yourself) and it is important that all requests contain enough information to make sure the most appropriate examination is being requested. Authorised referrers include:
- Medical doctors
- Dentists
- Specially trained Nurses
- Specially training Allied Health Professionals (e.g. physiotherapists)
The department is open 365 days a year for the provision of emergency and inpatient services. Non-emergency appointments are scheduled on Monday to Friday 8:00am to 7.30pm at both the hospital site and the Community Diagnostic Centre in Barnsley. Both sites are administered by staff based at the hospital. The Medical Imaging administration phone lines are open between 9:00am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Please note that after attending a doctors' appointment, your doctor will send a request electronically to the Medical Imaging department. If the doctor or dentist has requested a routine X-ray or DEXA you should call the department after a minimum of 18 hours. However, if the doctor or dentist has requested an urgent X-ray or DEXA, you should contact the department on the same day if possible. You will always need to ring the department to make an appointment.
Similarly, an appointment is required for CT, MRI, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Photography and this will be sent out to your home address by the Medical Imaging Team. If you have any queries regarding your appointment, please contact the department.
How to find us
Main Department (Plain film, General Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Fluoroscopy, DEXA Scans and Medical Photography)
Located on the ground floor next to the Emergency Department. Easiest access to the department is via the Physiotherapy entrance. Please report to the Medical Imaging Department reception for all examination types
Dental
Located on the ground floor in Women’s and Children’s Services. Easiest access is through entrance C2 which is to the left of the main entrance. Then go straight ahead into the lift hall, from where the entrance to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery can be seen.
Obstetric/Gynaecological Ultrasound
Located on the ground floor in Women’s and Children’s Services. Easiest access is through entrance C2 which is to the left of the main entrance. The Ultrasound Department is on the left side of the PALS desk.
Breast Services
Located on the ground floor in Women’s and Children’s Services. Easiest access is through entrance C2 which is to the left of the main entrance. Follow signs to the left of the reception desk.
Examination Locations
The location of a patient's examination (Barnsley Hospital or CDC) is determined by clinical, operational and capacity requirements. Patients should not be promised a specific location except for the following:
- DEXA scans are performed at the CDC only.
- Medical Photography and Dental X-rays are performed at Barnsley Hospital only.
