Tests and scans at Nuffield Health Hospitals

24-hour pH monitoring

24-hour pH monitoring is a test that measures how often stomach acid flows back up into your oesophagus (the tube connecting your throat to your stomach), and how acidic it is, over a full day. It helps your doctor find out whether your symptoms are caused by acid reflux.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) scan

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) scan will help you find out if you have any widening (aortic aneurysm) of your abdominal aorta.

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Ultrasound

Find out what an ARFI ultrasound scan is, why it's used to check liver and tendon tissue, and how the scan measures tissue stiffness in the body.

Angiography

Find out what angiography involves, how to prepare, what happens during and after the test, and the possible risks and benefits explained clearly.

Arterial mapping (or artery assessment)

Find out what arterial mapping (artery assessment) involves, why it's used, how to prepare, and what happens during and after this ultrasound scan.

Artery Assessment (Arterial and Vein Mapping)

Artery and vein mapping is an ultrasound scan that builds a detailed picture of your blood vessels. It measures their size, depth and condition, most often to check which ones are healthy enough to use in an operation, such as creating access for dialysis or a bypass graft.

Barium Meal or Enema

Organs such as your stomach or bowel do not show up very well on a normal X-ray. To closely examine these areas on an X-ray, your consultant may recommend a barium meal or enema.

Bronchoscopy

Find out what a bronchoscopy involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during and after the test, and the possible risks involved.

Capsule endoscopy of the small bowel

A capsule endoscopy uses a pill-sized camera to examine your small intestine, an area that's difficult to reach with a standard endoscope, helping diagnose or monitor bowel conditions. At Nuffield Health, our gastroenterologists are experienced at performing capsule endoscopies, offering personalised care, modern techniques and clear guidance at every step.

Cardiac electrophysiology study and catheter ablation

An electrophysiology study is a procedure to diagnose and treat an arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.

Cardiac event monitor

A cardiac event monitor, also called a cardiac event recorder, is a small device you wear or carry that records your heart's electrical activity, in the same way as an ECG (electrocardiogram), but over a much longer period, usually for a few days, or sometimes up to a month.

Carotid Doppler (Carotid Ultrasound)

Find out what a carotid Doppler scan involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during and after, and what your results could mean.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to examine the inner lining of the whole large bowel, including the rectum and colon. It is used to investigate symptoms such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habit, and to identify ulcers, polyps, inflammation or tumours, with biopsies and polyp removal possible during the same procedure.

Colorectal Screening (Bowel Cancer Screening)

Find out what colorectal (bowel cancer) screening involves, who it's for, how to do the home test, and what your results could mean for you.

Colposcopy

Find out what a colposcopy involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during and after, and what your results could mean for you.

Cone biopsy (cervical biopsy)

Find out what a cone biopsy involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during and after, and the possible risks involved for you.

CT calcium scoring (or cardiac calcium scoring)

CT calcium scoring is a CT scan to check for deposits or build-up of plaque on the walls of your coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to your heart).

Cystoscopy

Find out what a cystoscopy involves, why you might need one, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and the possible side effects to expect.

Cytology

Find out what a cytology test involves, why doctors might request one, how samples are taken, what happens afterwards, and what your results could mean.

Dermoscope

A dermoscope is a microscope like device used by dermatologists to examine individual skin lesions more closely.

Diagnostic endoscopy

A diagnostic endoscopy is an examination to look at your internal organs using an instrument called an endoscope.

Echocardiogram

Find out what an echocardiogram (echo) involves, why you might need one, the different types, what happens during the scan, and possible risks

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Find out what an ECG (electrocardiogram) checks, why you might need one, the different types, what happens during the test, and possible risks.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Find out what an EEG (electroencephalogram) is, why it's used, the different types, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and possible risks.

Electromyography (EMG)

Find out what an EMG (electromyography) test checks, why you might need one, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and what to expect afterwards.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatogram (or ERCP)

Find out what an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography) involves, why you might need one, how to prepare, and the possible risks.

Endoscopy

An endoscopy is a medical procedure in which an instrument (an endoscope, or ‘scope’) is introduced into the body to gain a view of internal structures and organs.

Enhanced Prostate Cancer Screening at Barbican Medical Centre

Our Enhanced Prostate Cancer Screening Service provides a more accurate assessment of your prostate cancer risk than a standard PSA test.

Excisional biopsy

Find out what an excisional biopsy involves, how to prepare, what happens during the procedure, and the possible risks and recovery time afterwards.

Family history screening

Find out what family history screening for cancer involves, when it's offered, what happens at your appointment, and what your results could mean.

FibroScan

Find out what a FibroScan involves, why it's used to check your liver, how to prepare, what happens during the scan, and what the results mean.

Fine needle biopsy

Find out what a fine needle biopsy involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during and after the test, and the possible risks explained.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera to examine the lining of the rectum and the lower part of the colon, sending live images to a screen. It is commonly used to investigate symptoms such as unexplained rectal bleeding or to monitor conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.

Fluorescein angiography

Find out what fluorescein angiography involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and the possible side effects.

Gastroscopy (gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy)

Find out what a gastroscopy involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and the possible risks and results.

Glucose breath test (hydrogen breath test)

A glucose breath test, also called a hydrogen breath test, checks how well your gut digests sugar by measuring the gases in your breath. You drink a sugary solution, usually containing glucose, and then breathe into a device at set intervals over the next couple of hours.

Gynaecological biopsies

A gynaecological biopsy is a term for tests that take a small sample of tissue or cells from part of the female reproductive system to check under a microscope. The most common is an endometrial (womb) biopsy, which takes a sample from the lining of the womb.

Hearing test

Find out what a hearing test involves, why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and what your results could mean.

Histopathology

Histopathology is the study of diseased tissue, using a microscope, to help diagnose your condition. A doctor called a histopathologist examines a sample of tissue, usually taken during a biopsy or an operation, and writes a report describing what they find.

Holter monitor

If an ECG doesn't reveal any heart problems, your consultant may recommend measuring your heart's activity over an extended time using a Holter monitor.

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

Understand what a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) involves, from preparing for your appointment to recovery, results and the possible risks and benefits.

Hysteroscopy

Find out what a hysteroscopy involves, including why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during the test, and the possible risks and benefits.

Image guided aspiration and biopsy

Find out what image-guided aspiration and biopsy involves, including why it's used, how to prepare, what to expect, and the possible risks and benefits.

Lactose breath test

Find out what a lactose breath test involves, including why it's used, how to prepare, what happens during and after the test, and the possible risks.

Larynx diagnostic endoscopy (or laryngoscopy)

If you experience chronic (long term) laryngitis, difficulty swallowing or throat pain your consultant may recommend a larynx diagnostic endoscopy (laryngoscopy).

Liver biopsy

A liver biopsy is a procedure where a doctor takes a small sample of tissue from your liver, usually with a special needle. A pathologist (a doctor who examines tissue samples) then looks at the sample under a microscope to check for signs of liver damage or disease.

Liver function tests

Find out what liver function tests measure, why you might need one, how to prepare, what happens, and what the results can and can't tell you.

Mole assessment

A mole assessment is when a doctor, nurse or trained specialist examines a mole, or several moles, on your skin to check for any signs that could suggest skin cancer. They may look at the mole with the naked eye or use a magnifying tool called a dermatoscope to see it in more detail.

Tests and scans

Find out about our popular procedures

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Types of test and scan: