Private Ultrasound Scans in Sutton Coldfield
The full diagnostic ultrasound range — MSK, abdominal, pelvic, thyroid, testicular, soft-tissue, vascular Doppler, early-pregnancy reassurance and transthoracic echocardiogram — performed by consultant radiologists, BSE-accredited cardiac physiologists and HCPC-registered MSK sonographers. From £340. Same-week, including weekends. No GP referral.
Ultrasound is fast, radiation-free, and for many problems — a sore shoulder, a worrying lump, a pelvic pain, a stress fracture in the foot — the right first scan. At The Vesey we offer the full diagnostic range across one ultrasound suite: abdominal and pelvic scans, MSK ultrasound (with same-visit guided injection if needed), thyroid and testicular scans, vascular Doppler, early-pregnancy reassurance and consultant-reported transthoracic echocardiography. Most patients are seen within a week and leave with a verbal summary on the day; the written report follows within 24–48 hours.
Types of ultrasound we offer
Every scan listed below is performed and reported on-site at The Vesey, in Sutton Coldfield. Click any row in the pricing table further down for the booking link. If you're unsure which scan is right for your symptoms, call us on 0121 387 3727 — reception will triage and book the correct scan in one call.
- Shoulder — rotator cuff, biceps, subacromial bursa, AC joint
- Elbow — tennis & golfer's elbow, biceps insertion
- Wrist & hand — ganglion, carpal tunnel, trigger finger, De Quervain's
- Hip / groin — trochanteric bursa, hamstring origin, hernia
- Knee — patellar tendinopathy, meniscal cysts, popliteal (Baker's) cyst
- Ankle / foot — Achilles, plantar fascia, Morton's neuroma, peroneal tendons
- Guided injection — steroid, local anaesthetic, hyaluronic acid (peripheral joints)
- Transthoracic echo (TTE) — left & right ventricular function, all four valves, aortic root, pericardium
- Reported by consultant cardiologist within 48 hours
- Indications: breathlessness, murmur, palpitations, hypertension, family history of cardiomyopathy
- Pre-sport / athlete screening to ESC consensus criteria
- Stress echo & bubble contrast — referred onward in Birmingham, consultant report included
- Upper abdomen — liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, pancreas, spleen, kidneys
- Gallstones & cholecystitis assessment
- Liver — fatty liver / steatosis, focal lesions, cirrhosis screen
- Kidneys — stones, hydronephrosis, cysts, simple masses
- Aorta — AAA screen (men 65+ recommended)
- Bladder — wall thickness, retention, post-void residual
- Carotid Doppler — stroke-risk stratification, TIA work-up, carotid bruit
- Lower-limb venous — DVT exclusion, varicose-vein mapping
- Lower-limb arterial — claudication, ankle-brachial pressure index
- Upper-limb — subclavian steal, AV-fistula surveillance
- Renal artery Doppler — resistant hypertension work-up
- Female pelvic — uterus, ovaries, endometrial thickness, fibroids, simple cysts
- Transvaginal when transabdominal view is limited (consented in advance)
- Early pregnancy reassurance from 6 weeks — viability, dating, location
- Suspected miscarriage / ectopic — urgent same-day where capacity
- Anomaly & gender scans >14 weeks: referred to specialist antenatal centres
- Thyroid & neck — nodules, lymph nodes, salivary glands
- Testicular — pain, swelling, varicocele, hydrocele, suspected torsion (urgent)
- Breast — palpable lump assessment (referred to specialist breast unit where indicated)
- Lumps & bumps — lipoma, cyst, abscess, suspected hernia
- Skin & superficial — foreign body localisation, abscess drainage planning
Procedures & transparent pricing
All prices include the scan, a verbal summary on the day, a written report within 24–48 hours, and (with consent) a letter to your GP. No additional reporting fees, no contrast surcharges. Insurance accepted — call your provider for pre-authorisation before booking.
| Scan | Performed by | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General abdominal ultrasound Liver, gallbladder, biliary, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, aorta | Consultant radiologist / sonographer | £340 | Enquire |
| Pelvic ultrasound (transabdominal) Uterus, ovaries, bladder, endometrial thickness | Sonographer | £340 | Enquire |
| Transvaginal pelvic ultrasound For higher-resolution views when transabdominal limited | Female sonographer (chaperone offered) | £400 | Enquire |
| Thyroid & neck ultrasound Thyroid nodules, cervical lymph nodes, salivary glands | Consultant radiologist / sonographer | £340 | Enquire |
| Testicular ultrasound Scrotal pain, swelling, mass, varicocele, hydrocele | Consultant radiologist | £340 | Enquire |
| Soft-tissue / lumps & bumps Lipoma, cyst, hernia screen, suspected foreign body | Consultant radiologist / sonographer | £340 | Enquire |
| Early pregnancy reassurance scan From 6 weeks — viability, dating, location | Obstetric sonographer | £340 | Enquire |
| Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screen Men 65+ — single one-off screen recommended | Consultant radiologist | £340 | Enquire |
| MSK ultrasound — single region Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, foot | MSK consultant radiologist / sonographer | £380 | Enquire |
| MSK ultrasound + guided injection Scan + steroid / LA injection in one visit — most popular MSK package | MSK consultant radiologist | £450 | Enquire |
| Carotid Doppler ultrasound Stroke risk, TIA work-up, carotid bruit | Vascular sonographer | £400 | Enquire |
| Lower-limb venous Doppler (DVT) Painful swollen leg — DVT exclusion same/next day | Vascular sonographer | £400 | Enquire |
| Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) Full cardiac structural & functional assessment — consultant cardiologist reported | BSE cardiac physiologist + consultant cardiologist | £500 | Enquire |
Multi-region MSK scans (e.g. both shoulders, knee + hip) priced per region — call for a custom quote. Insurance: Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna and Healix all routinely cover diagnostic ultrasound on clinical indication; pre-authorisation usually required.
What to expect on the day
Reception texts your prep when you book — fast for abdominal, full bladder for pelvic, loose clothing for MSK. No prep needed for thyroid, testicular, MSK, vascular or echo.
Five-minute review of your symptoms and what we're scanning for — so the radiologist sweeps the right region with the right probe.
Comfortable, no needles for diagnostic scans. Warm gel. You'll see the images on the screen and we'll explain as we go. Guided injection (where booked) at the end.
Sonographer or radiologist gives you a clear verbal summary before you leave. You'll know what was found, what it means, and what (if anything) needs follow-up.
Formal report emailed to you and (with consent) sent to your GP. Echocardiograms include a consultant-cardiologist interpretation.
Ultrasound vs MRI vs CT — which is right?
| Question | Ultrasound | MRI | CT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation? | None | None | Significant |
| Soft tissues / tendons / muscles | Excellent — dynamic, real-time | Excellent — static | Limited |
| Bone / deep joints (e.g. lumbar spine) | Limited | Best | Excellent for bone |
| Gallstones & bile duct | First line | Better for ducts >1cm | Misses some stones |
| Pregnancy | Safe in pregnancy | Safe but rarely needed | Avoided |
| Claustrophobic? | Open / no tunnel | Tunnel | Short ring |
| Real-time guidance (injections) | Live needle visualisation | No | Limited |
| Cost (private, single body region) | £340–500 | ~£500–800 | ~£500–900 |
| Time | 15–30 min | 30–60 min | 15–30 min |
Common rule of thumb: ultrasound first for shoulder, Achilles, plantar fascia, gallbladder, thyroid, testicular, soft-tissue lump, vascular, pregnancy and superficial joint problems. MRI for the lumbar spine, hip labrum, deep knee structures and tumour characterisation. CT for acute abdominal pain at A&E, lung pathology and staging. We're happy to advise — or refer you straight to MRI / CT if ultrasound is clearly not the right test.
Who is this for?
- Sutton Coldfield · Mere Green · Four Oaks · Streetly
- Birmingham city centre · Erdington · Boldmere
- Lichfield · Tamworth · Burntwood
- Walsall · Aldridge · Brownhills
- Solihull · Knowle · Dorridge
- Coleshill · Castle Bromwich · Water Orton
- You want a same-week scan, including weekends
- You want a verbal summary on the day, not 2 weeks later
- You'd rather have your scan + guided injection in one visit
- You don't want to wait 8+ weeks on the NHS routine pathway
- You're insured (Bupa / AXA / Vitality / WPA / Aviva / Cigna)
- You want a consultant report, not a verbal-only opinion
- Severe acute abdominal pain ± vomiting
- Acute testicular pain <6 hours — possible torsion
- Sudden one-sided weakness / facial droop — possible stroke
- Chest pain >15 min / breathlessness — call 999
- Heavy vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
- Severe leg pain after immobilisation — possible large DVT / PE
- Suspected gallstones — abdominal scan
- Painful shoulder, suspected rotator cuff tear
- Thyroid nodule felt on examination
- Painful swollen calf — DVT exclusion
- Lump or "bump" the patient has discovered
- Murmur on examination — onward echo
- Pelvic pain or irregular bleeding
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private ultrasound scan cost?
Most general scans (abdominal, pelvic, thyroid, testicular, soft-tissue, early-pregnancy, AAA screen) are £340. MSK is £380; with a same-visit guided steroid injection it's £450. Vascular Doppler and transvaginal pelvic are £400. A consultant-cardiologist-reported transthoracic echocardiogram is £500. All prices include the scan, verbal summary, written report and a letter to your GP.
Do I need a GP referral?
No — book directly. We'll triage on the phone if you're unsure which scan you need. Bring any previous reports or imaging.
How fast can I be scanned?
Most scans within 3–7 days. Urgent concerns (suspected DVT, testicular pain, suspected miscarriage) we triage same-day where capacity allows. Open 8am–8pm 7 days a week including bank holidays.
Will my insurance cover it?
Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna and Healix routinely cover diagnostic ultrasound and echocardiography on clinical indication. Pre-authorisation is straightforward — call your insurer with the requesting clinician's name. We invoice insurers directly where authorised.
Who performs the scan?
HCPC-registered sonographers and consultant-grade radiologists. MSK by consultant MSK radiologists. Echocardiograms by BSE-accredited cardiac physiologists, reported by consultant cardiologists. Every report is signed.
How do I prepare?
Abdominal / gallbladder: fast 6 hours, water only. Pelvic / bladder: drink 1 litre of water 1 hour before, don't empty bladder. MSK / thyroid / testicular / vascular / echo / early-pregnancy transabdominal: no prep. Reception texts you scan-specific prep when you book.
What about ultrasound-guided injections?
Yes. Single-visit scan + injection (steroid or local anaesthetic) for shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, wrist, finger, plantar fasciitis and other peripheral joints — £450. Image-guided placement is dramatically more accurate than landmark-only, especially for the subacromial space and trochanteric bursa.
Early pregnancy scans — what's offered?
Reassurance / viability / dating scans from 6 weeks (transabdominal £340; transvaginal £400 if needed for accuracy). Detailed anomaly and gender scans >14 weeks: we refer to dedicated antenatal imaging centres in Birmingham — typically same-week, consultant report included in our referral.
Ultrasound vs MRI — which should I have?
Ultrasound first for soft tissues, tendons, gallbladder, thyroid, testicular, vascular and pregnancy — no radiation, real-time, no tunnel. MRI for the lumbar spine, hip labrum and deep knee structures. We'll advise on the phone if it's not obvious.
Where exactly are you?
The Vesey Private Hospital, Unit 3, The Courtyard, Reddicap Trading Estate, Sutton Coldfield, B75 7BU. Free on-site parking. ~10 min from M6 / M42 / M6 Toll. Sutton Coldfield rail station 5-min drive.
Consultant-led diagnostic ultrasound across the West Midlands
Same-week appointments including Sundays. From £340. Open 8am–8pm, 7 days a week. Free parking, no GP referral, insurance accepted.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your appointment · Pay per visit · CQC reg. 1-11527097165