Private CT head scans

A CT head scan, also called a CT brain scan or head CT, uses X-rays to take detailed pictures of the inside of the head. The NHS describes CT as a test that takes detailed pictures of the inside of your body, used for things like looking at bones and organs after an injury, finding the cause of symptoms and checking how well treatment is working.

If you or someone else has signs of a stroke, a sudden and extremely painful headache, or a serious head injury, call 999 or go to A&E. Do not wait for a private scan. The NHS red flags are listed below.

FindScan is a directory and enquiry service. We do not scan anyone, give medical advice or take bookings. You can compare clinics, see each clinic's own listed price as the clinic sets it, and send an enquiry. We pass your details to the clinic you chose, and the clinic takes it from there.

When CT rather than MRI is used

CT and MRI can both look at the head, but they work differently. CT uses X-rays, which are a form of ionising radiation. MRI does not use ionising radiation. The NHS says a CT scan usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes.

Which scan suits a question about the head is a clinical decision for the doctor requesting it. CT may be considered where MRI is not suitable, for example for some people with certain metal implants or devices, while in other cases MRI may be preferred because it avoids radiation. For more, see MRI vs CT, brain MRI scan and what a brain MRI shows.

What a CT head scan shows

A CT head scan shows the skull, the brain and the spaces around it. A doctor uses it to answer a specific question raised by your symptoms or examination. A clear scan answers that question; it does not mean every condition has been ruled out, so keep following any advice from your GP or specialist.

Red flags: call 999 or go to A&E, not a private scan

A private CT head scan is not a route for emergencies. NHS guidance says:

• Stroke: call 999 now if you think you are having, or have had, a stroke, or you have had signs of a stroke within the last 24 hours even if they have stopped. The NHS uses the word FAST to remember the symptoms: face, arms, speech and time to call 999.
• Sudden severe headache: call 999 or go to A&E if a headache started suddenly and is extremely painful, or comes with a seizure, numbness or weakness in the body or face, difficulty speaking, balancing, walking or remembering things, drowsiness or confusion, loss of vision, a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it, or a very high temperature with a stiff neck or bright lights bothering you. A headache after a head injury within the last 3 months is also on the list.
• Head injury: call 999 if someone has hit their head and has been knocked out and not woken up, cannot stay awake, has a fit, has fallen from a height of more than 1 metre or 5 stairs, has problems with vision or hearing, has clear fluid coming from the ears or nose, has new numbness or weakness, has problems with walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing, or hit their head at high speed, such as in a road accident. The NHS page lists other signs too.
• Get help from NHS 111 after a head injury if you are being sick, feel dizzy, have a condition or take medicine that thins your blood, or were drinking alcohol or taking drugs at the time of the injury.

For headaches, see a GP if you have tried treating a headache yourself and it is not getting better, or you get headaches regularly. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if a headache comes with vision or eye problems, is triggered or made worse by coughing, sneezing, bending down or exercising, comes with being sick, or comes with jaw pain when eating or a sore or tender scalp.

Referral: why a CT head scan always needs one

CT uses ionising radiation, so it is covered by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, known as IR(ME)R. Under regulation 11, an exposure must not be carried out unless a practitioner has justified it as showing a sufficient net benefit and it has been authorised. Regulation 10 requires the referrer to give the practitioner enough medical information, such as previous results or medical records, to make that decision.

This means a private CT head scan always needs a referral. Private clinics often arrange this through their own doctor or a clinical review, or accept a referral from your GP or specialist. Either way, the scan must be justified for you, and a clinic may decline a request if it is not. See seeing a GP before a scan.

Radiation dose in context

UKHSA gives a typical effective dose for a CT head scan of 2 mSv (millisieverts), about the same as 1 year of natural background radiation. It gives the UK average from natural sources as 2.1 mSv a year. UKHSA puts the approximate lifetime additional risk of fatal cancer from one CT head scan at 1 in 10,000 for patients aged 16 to 69, with risks about twice as high for children and about five times lower for older patients. For comparison, it lists a single chest X-ray at 0.02 mSv.

The NHS says that if you have lots of CT scans there is a very small chance the radiation from the X-rays can cause cancer, which is one reason each scan must be justified. IR(ME)R also requires staff to ask, where relevant, whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. See X-ray radiation safety.

Preparation and what happens

The clinic will tell you how to prepare. The NHS says you may need to remove metal such as jewellery, hair clips or clothes with zips or poppers, and to tell staff if you are or might be pregnant, are breastfeeding, have kidney or thyroid problems, asthma or diabetes, or have reacted to contrast medium before.

You lie on a flat bed that moves through a ring-shaped scanner, and the radiographer operates it from another room while talking to you. A CT scan usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes. Some head scans use contrast medium (dye) given by injection; the NHS says it can make you feel hot, give you a metallic taste or make you feel as if you need to pee, and these feelings are temporary. See how to prepare for your scan.

Results

Your images are reported by an appropriately qualified clinician. The clinic will tell you how long its report takes and how you will receive it. It can help to share the report with your GP or specialist, who can explain what it means alongside your symptoms and any other test results. See how long scan results take.

What affects the price

Prices for a CT head scan vary by clinic, by whether contrast is used, how the referral is arranged, the type of scanner and the region. FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price, as the clinic sets it, without mark-up. See private CT scan costs in the UK.

How to compare clinics on FindScan

Search for CT near you, check which clinics list CT head scans, and compare their listed prices and how each one handles referral and justification. When you have chosen, send an enquiry and include any referral letter or earlier results you have. The clinic contacts you to confirm whether the scan can be justified for you and to agree the next steps. Compare CT clinics near you.