Private Chest X-Ray

A chest X-ray uses a very small dose of ionising radiation to take a picture of the inside of your chest, including the lungs. The NHS lists the lungs among the main parts of the body X-rays are used to look at, and a GP looking into a cough or other chest symptoms might order one.

People often search for a private chest X-ray when a cough has gone on longer than expected, when they feel more breathless than usual, or after a chest infection that has not fully cleared. This page explains what the NHS says about those symptoms, which ones need urgent help rather than a private appointment, why every X-ray needs a referral, and how to find and compare clinics through FindScan. FindScan is a directory and enquiry service. We do not carry out scans or give medical advice.

What a chest X-ray is and what it is used for

A chest X-ray is a picture of the chest taken in a few minutes. The NHS says X-rays can be used to look at the lungs and to help investigate symptoms, for example to look for infection. A chest X-ray answers specific questions your referrer is asking. It is not a general health check, and a normal result does not mean that persistent symptoms can be ignored.

If you want to know more about what can and cannot be seen on the image, read our guide to what a chest X-ray can show. Sometimes a more detailed test is needed. Our CT chest scan guide explains how a CT scan differs.

Common reasons for a chest X-ray

The NHS mentions chest X-rays in its guidance on several conditions. Your GP or other referrer will decide whether one is right for you.

• A persistent cough. The NHS says that to find the cause of a cough, a GP might listen to your chest, take a sample of any mucus, or order an X-ray, an allergy test or a test of how well your lungs work.
• Chest infection and pneumonia. The NHS says that with pneumonia you may be sent for an X-ray of your chest and blood tests to check for other conditions. Most people with pneumonia get better in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on their symptoms.
• Symptoms the NHS asks you to get checked. On its lung cancer symptoms page, the NHS lists a persistent cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chest or shoulder pain, recurring chest infections and unexplained weight loss, and says a GP may ask you to have a blood test or an X-ray of your chest.

It helps to keep this in proportion. The NHS says most coughs are caused by a cold or flu, that a cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks, and that a cough is rarely a sign of something serious like lung cancer.

When to see a GP about a cough

The NHS says there is usually no need to see a GP if you have a cough, and that rest, fluids and advice from a pharmacist can help. It advises seeing a GP if:

• you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks (a persistent cough)
• you are losing weight for no reason
• you have a weakened immune system, for example because of chemotherapy or diabetes

A GP can examine you, decide whether a chest X-ray or any other test is needed, and arrange follow-up. If you choose to go privately, a GP's assessment is still a sensible first step, because they can look at the whole picture and act on the result.

Red flags: when to get urgent help

Some chest symptoms need urgent assessment, not a private X-ray. According to the NHS:

• Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse, you feel very unwell, you have chest pain, you find it hard to breathe, or you are coughing up blood.
• Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you are coughing up more than just a few spots or streaks of blood, or you are coughing up blood and finding it hard to breathe, have a very fast heartbeat, or have pain in your chest or upper back.
• Call 999 or go to A&E if you are struggling to breathe (choking, gasping and unable to speak) or have pain in your chest or upper back, as the NHS advises on its lung cancer symptoms page. Do not drive yourself to A&E.

Do you need a referral for a private chest X-ray?

Yes. A chest X-ray uses ionising radiation, so it is covered by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R). Every exposure must be requested by a referrer and justified by a practitioner as showing a sufficient net benefit before it goes ahead.

Private clinics often arrange this through their own doctor or a clinical review of your symptoms, and each clinic sets its own process. Ask about it when you send your enquiry. Our guides to how referrals for private X-rays work and seeing a GP before a scan explain more.

Preparing for a chest X-ray and what happens

The NHS says you may be asked not to wear anything that has metal in it, such as jewellery, bras, clothes with zips or poppers, or hair clips, so you may be given a gown. Tell the staff beforehand if you are or might be pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have any allergies.

A radiographer will position you and the machine and ask you to keep very still for a few seconds while the picture is taken. Staff usually step out of the room briefly during the exposure. The X-ray itself typically takes a few minutes.

Results

Your image will be reported by an appropriately qualified clinician. The clinic will tell you how long its report takes and who it will be sent to. Make sure someone, such as the referring doctor or your GP, can explain what it means and arrange any follow-up. If your symptoms continue or change after the X-ray, go back to your GP. See our guide to scan results.

Radiation dose

UKHSA patient dose guidance gives a typical effective dose of 0.02 mSv for a chest X-ray (a single back-to-front, or PA, image), which it compares to about 3 days of natural background radiation. UKHSA puts the UK average natural background dose at 2.1 mSv a year. For comparison, the same table lists a CT scan of the chest at 8 mSv, or about 3.6 years of background radiation.

The NHS says serious complications from X-rays are rare, but that having lots of X-rays carries a very small risk that the radiation could cause cancer, which is why each one has to be justified. Our X-ray radiation safety guide explains more.

Finding a chest X-ray clinic near you

Prices vary by clinic, region and how the clinic handles the referral and report. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price, as set by the clinic, without mark-up. Our guide to private X-ray costs explains what affects the price.

To find a chest X-ray near you, search X-ray clinics by location, compare listed prices and check what each clinic says about referrals and reporting. Then send an enquiry to the clinic you choose. FindScan passes your details to that clinic, and the clinic contacts you directly to arrange the referral, appointment and payment. FindScan does not take bookings or payments.