Frequently asked questions

Most services are self-refer — ultrasound, REMS bone density scans, private GP consultations, blood tests and ECG. You'll need a referral from a healthcare professional for children's ultrasound (under 16), MRI scans, ultrasound-guided injections, and some surgical procedures. If you don't have a referrer, our private GP can assess you and arrange the referral in the same visit.

Three easy ways: book online in about 60 seconds, call us on 029 2199 9300, or pop into either clinic. You'll get instant confirmation for most services.

Yes — you can self-refer online for most services. Healthcare professionals (GP, physiotherapist, podiatrist, chiropractor, osteopath or consultant) can refer patients using our online referral form. Ultrasound-guided injections and MRI always require a professional referral — this can be emailed to contact@acornprivateclinic.co.uk before the appointment.

Yes — for your safety and continuity of care you need to be registered with a GP (NHS or private). With your consent we send your report directly to them. Please provide your GP details when you register.

Most appointments are available within 48-72 hours, and same-week slots are usually available. Urgent slots are sometimes available same-day — call us on 029 2199 9300 if you need to be seen quickly. This compares to NHS scan waits that can run from several weeks to several months.

Ultrasound-guided injections, MRI scans, children's ultrasound (under 16), and some surgical procedures. Referrals can come from your GP, physiotherapist, podiatrist, osteopath, chiropractor or consultant. Don't have one? Book a private GP consultation with us and we can arrange it.

Every scan is all-inclusive: a one-to-one scan with the consultant, an immediate verbal explanation of your results, a detailed written consultant report, high-resolution digital scan images, and any onward referral if needed. No hidden extras.

Aim to arrive 5-10 minutes before your appointment time — this allows for check-in and a quick history review. We can't usually accommodate patients more than 15 minutes late, as it affects other appointments.

Photo ID for first-time visits (driver's licence, passport or other photo ID), any previous scan reports or referral letters, and a list of your current medications. If you're diabetic and having an abdominal scan, bring a snack for afterwards.

Most ultrasound appointments last 15-30 minutes including time to discuss findings; two-area scans around 30-40 minutes; MRI 15-45 minutes depending on the body area. Allow about 45-60 minutes for the full visit.

Yes — a trained medical chaperone (separate from the scanning clinician) is present in the room for every scan, to protect both patients and staff. We cannot offer scans without a chaperone present. If you'd prefer a same-sex chaperone, please tell us when you book.

Yes — you're welcome to bring one partner, family member, friend or carer, who can join the consultation or wait in reception. Please note that for procedures — such as ultrasound-guided injections or intimate examinations — companions are asked to wait in reception rather than come into the room.

Most scans need no special preparation — just wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the area being scanned. The exceptions are abdominal, kidney/bladder/pelvic and MRI scans (see below). Full details are on our patient information page.

Fast for 4 hours before your appointment — no food, milky/fizzy/sugary drinks, chewing gum or cigarettes. Water in small sips is fine, and you can take your normal medications. Fasting lets us see your gallbladder clearly. If you're diabetic or prone to hypos, check with your GP first and bring a snack for afterwards.

Drink around 1.5 pints of water in the hour before your appointment and don't empty your bladder beforehand — we need it full. A full bladder pushes the bowel out of the way and gives a clear view of the kidneys, bladder, ovaries or prostate.

No metal — remove or avoid zips, underwires, belts, buckles, jewellery, watches, hearing aids and removable dental work. Tell us in advance about any pacemaker, cochlear implant or other metal implant, as some make MRI unsafe. Wear loose, comfortable clothing (you may change into a gown), and let us know if you're claustrophobic so we can plan support.

You get verbal results immediately at your appointment — your consultant explains what they've seen as they scan and again at the end. A detailed written consultant report is then emailed to you within 24-48 hours, usually the next working day.

A verbal explanation on the day, a written consultant report, high-resolution digital images of your scan (shareable with any clinician), and any onward referral we arrange if follow-up is needed — at no extra cost.

Yes — our reports are produced by UK-registered consultants and specialists, and are accepted by NHS GPs, consultants and onward referral pathways.

Yes — with your consent we can send the report directly to your GP, physiotherapist or any other clinician involved in your care.

Our pricing is transparent and all-inclusive. As a guide, a single-area ultrasound is £260, MRI is from £435, and an ECG is £120 (including a consultant cardiologist report). For the full list across every service, see our prices page.

Yes — most major UK insurers cover our diagnostic services when there's a clinical indication. Please notify us at the time of booking and bring your insurance documentation so it can be completed by our specialists. It's your responsibility to check you have the relevant cover and any necessary authorisation in place; if your insurer doesn't provide cover, you'll be liable for the fee.

We're registered with Bupa, AXA Health, WPA, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, Healix, Saga and Allianz.

Yes — a £260 Acorn gift voucher, redeemable against any service and valid for six months. Call us on 029 2199 9300 or see our gift card page.

Use the link in your confirmation email, or call us on 029 2199 9300. Please give us as much notice as you can — the refund and rescheduling terms that apply are set out on your booking confirmation.

Yes — ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation. It's the same technology used worldwide in pregnancy scans and is safe for all patients, including children and pregnant women.

A wide range — soft tissue and joints (shoulder, knee, hip, ankle and more), tendons and muscles, the abdomen, kidneys and bladder, pelvis, thyroid and neck, lumps and bumps, leg veins (DVT), and women's health and fertility scans.

Ultrasound has limits — it can't assess lower-back pain or sciatica, can't reliably check bones for fractures, and can't look at the bowel. For these we may recommend MRI, X-ray or another investigation.

A steroid/cortisone, PRP or hyaluronic acid injection placed precisely into a joint, tendon, ligament or nerve using ultrasound for accuracy. Injections require a referral from a healthcare professional. See our injection therapy page.

Yes — MRI requires a referral from a registered healthcare professional. Scans take place at our MRI scanner at Asda Pentwyn, Cardiff (CF23 8NL), with free parking. Private MRI is from £435 for one area, reported by a Consultant Radiologist. See our MRI page.

An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a quick, painless recording of your heart's electrical activity — useful for palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness or a heart-health check. It's £120, including a full report by a consultant cardiologist. See our ECG page.

REMS is a radiation-free scan that assesses your bone strength and fracture risk (osteoporosis), with a comprehensive report — a modern alternative to a DEXA scan.

Over 100 individual tests and health screens, including Well Man and Well Woman panels, thyroid, hormones, vitamins, cholesterol and more. See the blood tests page for the full list.

Yes — we offer same-week (often same-day) private GP appointments, in person or by video, including prescriptions and onward referral letters where needed.

Our flagship clinic is in Penarth (13 Washington Buildings, Stanwell Road, CF64 2AD), 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre with free street parking. We also have a clinic in Cowbridge (Beauty Within, 10 High Street, CF71 7AG), and our MRI scanner is at Asda Pentwyn, Cardiff.

Patients travel to us from across South Wales, including Cardiff, Penarth, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Yes — Acorn is inspected and regulated by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW). Our consultants are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), nurses with the NMC, and sonographers with the HCPC.

Yes — your medical information is held securely and shared only with your consent. We comply fully with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. See our privacy policy.

You'll be seen by a UK-registered consultant or specialist who is an expert in their field — the same standard of imaging and care trusted by professional sports clubs across South Wales.