Radiology - Ultrasound

Last updated: Tuesday 17 September 2024

General introduction

An ultrasound examination obtains images of the body without the use of X-rays.

It uses high frequency sound waves which pass through the skin and are reflected by the body’s internal organs. These ‘echoes’ are converted, with the aid of a computer, into a picture on a screen. 

We perform a variety of ultrasound scans across Warrington Hospital, Halton Hospital Nightingale building, Halton Hospital Captain Sir Tom Moore Building, and Halton Health Hub.

In addition to our main ultrasound scan departments, we also have ultrasound machines located across the Trust within the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit, Antenatal Day Unit, Antenatal Clinic, Vascular Lab and Rapid Access Clinics.

How to access this service

We see a range of patients referred from GP surgeries, hospital outpatient clinics and inpatient wards.

Opening times:

  • Warrington Hospital: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm and Friday 8am to 6pm
  • Halton Hospital Nightingale Building: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
  • Halton Hospital, Captain Sir Tom Moore Building: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
  • Halton Health Hub: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Weekend sessions are sometimes available.
About the team

While you visit the Radiology Department you may meet staff from the administration and clerical team, radiographers, assistant practitioners (AP’s), sonographers / vascular scientists, nurses, radiologists, radiology department assistants (RDAs), porters and student radiographers. The Diagnostic Imaging Systems team are also working in the background.

Useful information

Limitations of Ultrasound

Ultrasound waves are disrupted by air, gas or bone; therefore, ultrasound is not an ideal imaging technique for air-filled bowel or organs obscured by the bowel or bone. Patients who are overweight or obese are more difficult to image by ultrasound because greater amounts of tissue weaken the sound waves as they pass deeper into the body. This results in images that are blurry and more difficult to see some pathology. 

Mobile phone policy

Often a family’s visit to the ultrasound department can be an exciting time. However, patients are respectfully reminded that all scans performed in the ultrasound department are medical examinations and therefore the use of mobile phones or other recording equipment is not permitted. 

Ultrasound results

Finding out the results from your ultrasound examination depends upon the type of ultrasound scan you are having. Sometimes the results of the examination may be discussed immediately or sometimes the results will be made available in 1 to 2 weeks’ time after being delivered to the health care professional that requested the ultrasound. Sometimes ultrasound findings require further clarification, and you may require an additional form of imaging such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan in order to get a result.  


Contact Us

Telephone

For all general ultrasound enquiries 01925 275588

For all obstetric (pregnancy) ultrasound enquiries  01925 662311

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