Spire Liverpool Private Hospital can provide rapid access to state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging for all private, NHS and insured patients. As an integrated department within a private hospital, help is at hand should onward referral, treatment, surgery or advice be required following the results of your scan. Click here to find out more about imaging.
What is an X-ray?
An X-ray is a quick and painless method used to diagnose many health conditions. The procedure involves exposing part of your body to a small dose of ionising radiation (X-rays).
X-rays can take images of any bone in the body and are also used to look at the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
X-rays travel through your body where they are absorbed at different levels by different tissues such as bones, muscles and organs. When the X-rays come out on the other side of your body they hit a photographic film and make a pattern of light and shade.
The images produced are black, white and grey. They are either stored on film or kept in a digital format and shown on a computer screen.
X-rays can be used to look at bones, joints and soft tissues. They can be used to check:
- bones for fractures or infection
- joints for damage or inflammation
- soft tissues and organs for signs of disease
Having an X-ray
The radiographer will position you on a table in an X-ray room. They will then place a film holder or digital recording plate under the area that’s being X-rayed.
The radiographer will then walk behind a wall or into the next room to activate the X-ray machine. The whole procedure is painless and is usually completed within five to ten minutes.
