Paying for ultrasound scan in the UK
A diagnostic (non-pregnancy) ultrasound scan. The self-pay rows are for one product, an abdominal ultrasound, because ultrasound types are priced separately.
Each row is one way of paying: the NHS, the NHS paying an independent provider, private medical insurance, and paying the provider yourself. Every figure links to the page it was read from, with the date. NHS waits are for England; charges for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are shown where they have been read. Where nothing is published, the table says so.
How each route pays for ultrasound scan
| Route | What it covers | Wait | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS trust136 trusts, 567,046 people waiting | NHS test: Non-obstetric UltrasoundThe wait for the test, not for treatment | 3.1 weeksmedian waited so far for the test, England, August 2026; 22.3% waiting 6 weeks or more. Calculated from NHS England's published weekly bands | Not applicableNHS-funded. None of the NHS charges read (dental, prescription, sight test) applies to this |
|
| NHS-funded at another provider164 independent-sector, GP and community providers, 81,584 people waiting. Not like-for-like with trusts | NHS-funded test: Non-obstetric UltrasoundNHS-funded patients. Not a self-pay wait | 2.3 weeksmedian waited so far for the test, England, August 2026; 17.1% waiting 6 weeks or more. Calculated from NHS England's published weekly bands | Not applicableNHS-funded. None of the NHS charges read (dental, prescription, sight test) applies to this |
|
| Private medical insuranceExplained as a mechanism. No insurer or policy is named or compared | Not trackedSet per policy. This site does not read policies | Not trackedNo waiting time for insured patients has been read | Not publishedWhat an insurer pays, and any excess or shortfall, is set per policy | None for this row |
| Self-pay: 360 Med | Abdominal ultrasoundPrinted as: “General & Specialist Diagnostic Scans” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £250 |
|
| Self-pay: IUS London | Abdominal ultrasoundPrinted as: “General Abdominal Scan” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £159 |
|
| Self-pay: London Private Ultrasound | Abdominal ultrasoundPrinted as: “Private Abdominal Ultrasound Scan” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £219 |
|
| Self-pay: The Scan Clinic | Abdominal ultrasoundPrinted as: “Abdominal Scan” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £160 |
|
| Self-pay: Ultrasound Diagnostic Services | Abdominal ultrasoundPrinted as: “Upper Abdominal Scan” | Not trackedNo self-pay waiting time has been read for any provider | £220 |
|
NHS England diagnostic waiting times (DM01): patients waiting at the end of the month for this test, and how long they have waited so far for the test itself. This is the wait for the test, not for treatment.
Self-pay rows are listed A to Z by provider, each with the product it prices and the page it was read from. A “from” figure is a starting price and is not comparable with a fixed fee.
More on ultrasound scan
Sources
- NHS England diagnostic waiting times (DM01), provider file, August 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- 360 Med price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- IUS London price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- London Private Ultrasound price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- The Scan Clinic price page. Read 5 October 2026.
- Ultrasound Diagnostic Services price page. Read 5 October 2026.
This page presents published data. It does not recommend a route, a provider or an insurer.