St Andrew's Hospital Toowoomba

The preparation for the different types of MRI scans can vary. Please refer to the specific type of MRI scan you are having for further information.

You will be asked to change into a gown during the procedure, so we recommend wearing clothes that are easy to remove.

• When you arrive at Queensland X-Ray St Andrew's Hospital, Toowoomba, our reception staff will go through some questions with you to reconfirm your booking details.

• So our team can perform your scan safely and effectively, you are required to complete an MRI safety questionnaire and change into a gown, which we will provide. You will also be asked to remove any jewellery, hearing aids, dentures and any other loose items. Your belongings will be safely stored for you during your examination.

• In order to perform your MRI procedure, you will lie down on the MRI bed, which will move the part of the body we are scanning to the middle of the bore (hole). Throughout the procedure, you will be required to keep still.

• Some MRI examinations require us to insert an intravenous (IV) line into your arm. We use this to administer contrast dye that can help to enhance the images we take. When the contrast is injected, you may get a metallic taste in your mouth, and this is completely normal. It is important to tell the staff if you have had any form of reaction to MRI contrast before.

• The MRI machine makes a very loud knocking and humming sound when the images are being taken. Both hearing protection and an emergency buzzer are provided for the duration of the MRI examination. You will be offered headphones through which the MRI radiographer can talk to you and play a selection of music to help reduce the noise and pass the time more quickly. The knocking will intermittently stop while the computer processes the images for a few seconds at a time before starting again. No one else will be in the room during your scan, but you can press the buzzer should you need to communicate with the MRI radiographer or stop the exam at any time.

If you require an MRI scan and suffer from claustrophobia or are uncomfortable with the restrictive space, you can have your doctor prescribe some sedation for you to complete the scan. In more extreme cases of claustrophobia, we can provide twilight sedation at one of our hospital practices. Just mention this at the time of booking.

Safety is paramount with MRI scanning, so at the time of booking your MRI and also when you arrive at St Andrew's Hospital, Toowoomba, for your appointment, you will be asked certain safety questions.

An MRI scanner is essentially a large magnet, and certain metal objects like implants are not MRI safe or are MRI conditional. Please let your referring doctor and Queensland X-Ray St Andrew's Hospital Toowoomba staff know if you have any of the following:

• Cardiac pacemaker
• Defibrillator
• Cochlear implant
• Neurostimulator
• Aneurysm clips
• Active implanted biomedical devices
• Infusion pump
• Continuous Glucose Monitors
• Any implants or devices in your head or body

Please let us know at the time of booking if you are pregnant.

Most MRI scans take approximately 15 minutes to 1 hour to complete, depending on the part of the body we scan.

The MRI price is subject to variation based on several factors. We will inform you of the price at the time of booking. If you have any questions about our MRI services, Medicare eligibility, health insurance or any out-of-pocket costs, feel free to contact us, and one of our team members will be happy to assist.

To make an MRI booking online with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here.

Our team will provide any specific instructions at the time of booking, and these should be followed carefully.

We recommend wearing a separate top and bottoms during your appointment as this makes changing for the examination easier.

If you are pregnant or there is a possibility of you being pregnant, please let our staff know before your examination.

You may be asked to change into a hospital gown for your scan to ensure clothing does not affect the quality of the scan. You may also be asked to remove any jewellery, glasses or other metal objects that could affect the image quality.

For some CT scans, it may be recommended to have an injection of contrast material (or CT contrast dye). This will be discussed with you prior to your examination.

A CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine with a bed passing through the middle. You will be asked to lie on the bed as still as you can to improve image quality. The bed will move through the scanner to capture your images.

Throughout the CT, you will be able to communicate with the radiographer performing your scan.

You may be given breathing instructions to follow. The radiographer performing your examination will explain this to you before your scan.

A CT scan can take between 5 minutes and 30 minutes, depending on which part of the body is scanned and whether you require a contrast injection.

To book a CT appointment with Queensland X-Ray, access our patient portal here. 

The terms CAT scan and CT scan refer to the same type of medical imaging procedure. CAT stands for “Computed Axial Tomography” and CT is simply “Computed Tomography”. Although CAT scan was the first term used, CT scan has become more common in recent years.

The cost of scans is subject to variation based on several factors. We will inform you of the CT scan price at the time of booking. If you have any questions about costs or Medicare eligibility, please feel free to contact us, and one of our team members will be happy to assist you with your query.

CT scans are a powerful diagnostic tool that can detect life-threatening conditions such as haemorrhage, blood clots, and cancer. Early detection of these conditions can be lifesaving.

A CT scanner uses X-rays, which produce ionising radiation that has the potential to cause biological effects in living tissue. The risk of developing cancer from X-ray radiation exposure is minimal.

It is important to note that in almost all cases, the benefits of a CT scan outweigh the risks associated with radiation exposure. If you have any concerns about your upcoming CT scan, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your doctor.

Preparation before your ultrasound scan is very important. Please follow the instructions given to you at the time of booking carefully and thoroughly.

In some cases, you will be asked to fast. This means you should not eat, drink or chew anything 4-6 hours before your appointment. A sip of water is allowed for hydration purposes.

For some ultrasound scans, you will be required to have a full or partially full bladder. You will be able to empty your bladder as soon as the scan is over.

If you have any questions about the preparation for your scan, please contact the practice where your appointment is booked.

For an ultrasound scan, you will generally be required to lie down on an examination table or bed. During the scan, the area of interest will be exposed, with the rest of your body remaining covered to ensure your privacy and comfort. Queensland X-Ray’s highly-trained ultrasound technologists (known as sonographers) will place gel onto your skin and will then place the transducer in the area that is being studied. A moving image is shown instantly on a monitor screen.

Ultrasound is generally regarded as safe, as you are not exposed to ionising radiation like some other forms of medical imaging (e.g. X-rays, CT scans). Instead, ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to show images inside the body. Please discuss any concerns with your referring doctor.

All ultrasounds at Queensland X-Ray St Andrew's Hospital, Toowoomba are performed by sonographers who are highly trained and accredited professionals. Our quality team consists of male and female sonographers who are qualified to perform all diagnostic ultrasound imaging, including breast imaging

At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and ultrasound results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here.

To book an ultrasound online with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here.