Bishops Wood Hospital is located in Northwood in North West London, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. People visit us from local areas including Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Pinner, Ruislip and Amersham, as well as Uxbridge, Chalfont and Watford. We also welcome patients from across the UK as well as abroad. When you go private, you can choose which hospital and which consultant are the best fit for you.
Bishops Wood has a purpose-built imaging suite which offers diagnostic imaging for a variety of routine and specialised procedures, including x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound.
MRI scan
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, produces images of the inside of the body by using a strong magnetic field and radio waves.
MRI is one of the safest imaging techniques, which can be used to produce images of almost any part of the body, however is commonly used to examine the spine, brain, pelvis and abdomen. It can show nerves, blood vessels, muscles, joints and other structures from all angles.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound scanners use high frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, to create an image of an organ in your body.
A small handheld sensor is used to deliver the ultrasound waves, and as no radiation is used, it is thought to be a completely safe procedure.
Ultrasounds are commonly used to monitor the unborn baby of a pregnant woman, but can also be used to examine the uterus, ovaries and prostate gland, as well as being used to diagnose congenital heart disease.
Mammography
Mammography is a type of X-ray used to screen for breast cancer. Screening is advised annually from 40 years.
Some find the scan a little uncomfortable as, in order to ensure a clear image is obtained, the breast tissue needs to be held, but this only lasts a few seconds and you will be able to go home immediately.
Breast Biopsy
An excision biopsy removes a lump from the breast through a small cut. The excision will then be examined to diagnose cancer. If the lump cannot be felt by the surgeon, a breast radiologist will use an ultrasound scanner or mammogram machine to guide the surgeon to the lump.
An excision biopsy is usually performed under a general anaesthetic and you will usually be able to go home the same day.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram, or commonly known as echo, is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to create an image of the heart and gives information on the heart's shape, size, chamber and valves. It can also highlight areas of the heart muscles that are not contracting is a usual way.
An electric probe will be placed on areas of your chest to capture images of your heart and the test should only take between 30-45 minutes and you will be able to go home afterwards.
ECG monitoring
An electrocardiogram, or commonly known as ECG, is a painless test that uses electrodes placed on your wrist, ankles and chest to measures the electrical activity of your heart. The test can be used to assess if you have had a heart attack, and may also detect arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease.
Dependent on the symptoms you are displaying, the type of test may be a resting ECG (where you lie down), stress or exercise ECG (taken whilst exercising on a bike or treadmill), or ambulatory ECG (small device worn throughout the day).
Ultrasound guided joint injections
Ultrasound guided joint injections is a technique used to relieve painful ligaments, joints or tendons.
An ultrasound scanner will be used to guide the consultant to the area where the injection is needed. The procedure will only take up to 30 minutes and you will be able to go home on the same day.
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