Fast, high-quality digital plain radiography — with formal Consultant Radiologist reporting as standard.
Plain X-ray (plain radiography) is the oldest and most widely used form of medical imaging. A beam of X-rays passes through the body and is captured on a digital detector, creating a two-dimensional image. It is particularly well suited to imaging bones, the chest, and the abdomen.
While an X-ray in an urgent care or A&E setting may simply be reviewed by the treating clinician, every X-ray we perform at Bristol Medical Imaging Partners receives a formal written report by a Consultant Radiologist. This means subtle findings are less likely to be missed, and you receive a permanent written record of the findings — valuable for any further management or specialist referral.
Formally reported: Many private and urgent care clinics perform X-rays without formal radiologist reporting. At Bristol Medical Imaging, every image is reviewed and reported by a Consultant Radiologist — the gold standard of care.
| Duration | 5 – 10 minutes |
| Radiation | Very low dose |
| Preparation | Usually none required |
| Report | 24–48 hours |
| Locations | Spire & Nuffield Bristol |
Assessment of the lungs, heart, mediastinum and pleura. Used for suspected infection, fluid, cardiac enlargement, rib fractures and lung masses.
Fracture assessment, arthritis, bone lesions and joint disease. Spine, hips, knees, shoulders, hands, feet and all peripheral joints.
Assessment of bowel gas pattern, calcification (kidney stones, gallstones), and foreign body detection.
In most cases, no preparation is required for an X-ray. You may be asked to remove jewellery, clothing with metal zips or buttons, and to put on a hospital gown. For abdominal X-rays, avoid eating for a few hours beforehand if instructed.
The procedure takes only a few minutes. A radiographer will position you carefully to obtain the best possible image, and you may be asked to hold your breath briefly for chest X-rays. The dose of radiation from a standard X-ray is very small.
You can return to normal activities immediately. There are no side effects. Your images are reviewed by a Consultant Radiologist who will produce a formal written report, typically within 24–48 hours.