Ultrasound is an excellent modality for imaging the solid and cystic structures within the body, it is non-invasive and does not involve ionising radiation. It is of great value when used to answer specific clinical questions that help to confirm or disprove a diagnosis but should not be used as a “screening test” for vague symptoms.

As a rule the ultrasound request should include:

• A specific clinical question(s)
• Clinical history with any relevant laboratory investigation results and physical examination findings

Ultrasound can’t be reliably used to diagnose stomach or bowel pathology. Some common exclusions include scanning for:

• Polycystic Ovaries (PCO) see Rotterdam Criteria, except when part of fertility investigations
• Acute renal colic, CT KUB is modality of choice
• Ovarian or testicular torsion

If you need further guidance please contact us on 0333 332 2103.

Our exculsions for the community ultrasound service are:

• Ultrasound guided procedures
• Obstetric care
• Children under the age of 18
• Cancer – any patient with suspected cancer who meets the 2 week wait criteria should be referred via the 2 week wait pathway
• Scans for the following:
  • Breast
  • Cardiac Imaging
  • Chest
  • Ophthalmology
  • Thyroid
  • Superficial masses or lumps in the neck, or groin
  • Skin/ dermal lesions

Process starts

1. Patient attends GP appointment and Ultrasound scan is required
2. GP accesses eReferral and find patients details via their NHS number
3. GP selects “Diagnostic Imaging” and then “Ultrasound” (patients under 18 will automatically be excluded from the service by e-RS and GPs will need to ensure that patients meet the service acceptance criteria and that exclusion categories relating to certain scan types and BMI restrictions are not referred to our Ultrasound service)
4. GP selects scan type required and urgency of scan (GP undertaking triage by selecting the appropriate scan type required, if it the referral is marked as urgent the GP must ensure the patient is aware of this and the requirement to book the appointment within two weeks as GP Care will contact the patient to bring the appointment forward if they do not)
5. GP selects distance to the patients address
6. Provider options presented and dependant on the selection criteria
7. GP selects suitable providers to be offered to the patient
8. Referral and other relevant information is uploaded to eReferral
9. UBRN appointment letter is generated
10. Practice gives or posts UBRN appointment letter to patient (the referring practice will be required to provide the eRS letter to the patient)
11. Practice checks eReferral work list to ensure the patient has booked an appointment (the referring practice is able to monitor the eRS work list to check whether the patient books their appointment)

Process ends

Referral pathway can also be found on G Care.

Process starts

1. Patient receives eReferral letter
2. Patient accesses NHS eReferral via the online booking website
3. Patient books an appointment for a convenient location, date and time ( if you are diabetic please book the earliest available appointment in the day, patients without internet will need to call the eRS centre to make an appointment)
4. Patient prints off or writes down appointment location, date and time (patients have the ability to manage appointments through the eRS booking site including changing appointments and cancelling appointments. Cancelled appointments are notified to the referring GP through the eRS work list)
5. Patient also makes a note of the required scan preparation (where applicable) (pre scan preparation is shown on e-RS at the time of booking the appointment.
6. Patient attends appointment (if patients do not attend they will be contacted by GP Care’s Patient Support team to rebook their appointment)
7. GP Care clinician completes the report (patients requiring a rescan will be re-booked during initial appointment visit)
8. GP Care sends the report to the referring GP

Please see Scan Type Triage Tips for more detail

General = Abdo/Renal/Aorta

• Abdomen Ultrasound = to include detailed assessment of the liver, gall bladder, CBD, pancreas, spleen, abdominal aorta and kidneys
• Renal Ultrasound = to include detailed assessment of the kidneys and bladder (and abdominal aorta in over 50s)
• Abdominal Aorta Ultrasound = to included assessment and measurement of abdominal aorta and kidneys
• Abdomen and Renal Ultrasound = to include detailed assessment of the liver, gall bladder, CBD, pancreas, spleen, abdominal aorta and kidneys and bladder.

Abdomen and Pelvis scans for female patients only

Pelvic

• Female Pelvic Ultrasound TA and TV scans = to include assessment of uterus, endometrium, ovaries and both adnexa

Abdo and Pelvis

• Abdomen and Pelvis = To include detailed assessment of the liver, gall bladder, CBD, pancreas, spleen, abdominal aorta, uterus, endometrium, ovaries and both adnexa.

Ultrasound Gloucestershire

Ultrasound Service Patient Information Leaflet

General = Abdo/Renal/Aorta

• Abdomen Ultrasound Scan Preparation
• Abdomen and Renal Ultrasound Scan Preparation
• Renal Ultrasound Scan Preparation

Abdo and Pelvis

• Abdomen and Pelvis Ultrasound Scan Preparation

Pelvis

• Pelvis Ultrasound Scan Preparation

Aorta

• Aorta Ultrasound Scan Preparation