Radiological investigations in NHS Lothian are available at Central and Community sites. Different modalities are available at different sites – see table below for guidance.
| Site | Radiological Investigations Available | RefHelp page Guidance |
| Leith Community Treatment Centre | Plain x-ray and ultrasound | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound |
| East Lothian Community Hospital | Plain x-ray and ultrasound | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound |
| Lauriston Building | Plain x-ray and ultrasound | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound |
| Midlothian Community Hospital | Plain x-ray and ultrasound | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound |
| Royal Hospital for Sick Children | Plain x-ray and ultrasound Please note that RHCYP services are for children only (aged 0 to 16) NOT adults Nuclear Medicine (GPs can’t refer) | See Paediatric Radiology |
| Royal Infirmary Edinburgh | Plain x-ray and ultrasound CT & MRI Nuclear Medicine (GPs can’t refer) | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound See specific Radiological and Neuroradiological pathway guidance |
| Western General Hospital | Plain x-ray and ultrasound CT & MRI Nuclear Medicine | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound See specific Radiological and Neuroradiological pathway guidance |
| St John’s Hospital | Plain x-ray and ultrasound CT & MRI Nuclear Medicine (GPs can’t refer) | See Plain X-rays & Ultrasound See specific Radiological and Neuroradiological pathway guidance |
Ordering Radiological investigations from Primary Care is usually via SCI Gateway, (some plain x-rays can be ordered via ICE for participating practices.)
Radiological investigations can be ordered via general open access (plain x-ray and ultrasound) or via specific Radiological or Neuroradiological pathways (specific MRI investigations and specific CT investigations). GPs are also able to order Nuclear Medicine Bone Scans in specific circumstances, and DEXA scanning also.
Referral for x-rays are governed by Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018 and these are the responsibility of the Referrer.
For all Radiology requests: Referrers accept responsibility for dealing with the result(s) and informing the patient as necessary.
There is a lot of helpful information for patients on the NHS Lothian Radiology page.
Radiology Primary Care Interface Meeting
The Radiology PCI meets quarterly to discuss Radiology issues particularly those pertinent to the interface. Primary Care are represented by an LMC representative, a GP representative (not from LMC) and a RefHelp Referrals Advisor. The meeting is chaired by Dr Stephen Glancy, Consultant Radiologist, WGH. GPs can contact any of their representatives or Dr Glancy if they have an issue they feel should be discussed at the PCI Meeting.
Contacting Radiology
If GPs have a query about a specific radiological report, they should email the reporting Radiologist or Radiographer directly. Locum / Sessional GPs should copy in the practice Clinical inbox so that any reply can be actioned on by the patient’s practice. If the query is urgent or the reporter is not findable on the email system, then please contact the Duty Radiologist at the relevant site as detailed below.
By Phone
PLEASE NOTE THESE NUMBERS ARE FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY, THEY ARE NOT FOR PATIENTS
If GPs have any specific queries they can contact the Duty Radiologist for advice on the numbers below. (Patient department contact numbers can be found in the Plain X-rays & Ultrasound section).
- WGH: GP contact number for Duty Radiologist 0131 537 2315
- SJH: GP contact number for Duty Radiologist 01506 524 352
- RIE: GP contact number for Duty Radiologist 0131 242 3572
- DCN: GP contact number for Duty Radiologist 0131 312 0119
- RHCYP: GP contact number for Duty Radiologist 0131 312 0120
By Email
PLEASE NOTE THESE EMAIL CONTACTS ARE FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY, THEY ARE NOT FOR PATIENTS
The email addresses below can be used for administrative enquiries/ expediting reports/ changing appointments etc, but not for specific individual purely clinical questions.
- WGH: wgh.radiology@nhs.scot
- WGH Mammography: wgh.mammography@nhs.scot
- RIE: radiology.rie@nhs.scot
- SJH: sjh.radiology@nhs.scot
Requests for Sedation for MRI/CT scan
Sedation is not routinely offered or advised for patients referred for an MRI or CT scan. The Radiology teams in NHS Lothian are highly skilled in supporting the vast majority of patients through their scan, and use a variety of supports including face masks, music, increased communications during the scan etc to support patients who are finding the process difficult.
In the very few instances where a patient is not able to manage a scan with support, then the Radiology department will direct the patient to have a discussion with their referrer. Patients should not be directed to their GP if the GP was not the referring clinician. The Referrer should then discuss with the patient how best to proceed, taking into account the urgency and importance of the scan versus the patient’s ability to tolerate the procedure.
UPDATED SG AND JB DEC 2025
Who to refer:
Please see individual pathways and the Primary Care Management section of the Plain x-ray and Ultrasound page on Who to Refer
Referral for x-rays are governed by Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018 and these are the responsibility of the Referrer.
For all Radiology requests: Referrers accept responsibility for dealing with the result(s) and informing the patient as necessary.
Who not to refer:
Please see individual pathways and the Primary Care Management section of the Plain x-ray and Ultrasound page on Who not to Refer
Please also see be aware that:
For Paediatric Imaging advice please click on the link to Paediatric Radiology guidance
Breast Lumps – All patients with suspected breast lumps, whether male or female, should be referred to the Breast Unit as per the Breast Lumps guidance
How to refer:
Please see under specific modality or pathway pages for guidance on How to Refer
For all Radiology requests: Referrers accept responsibility for dealing with the result(s) and informing the patient as necessary.
There are currently three pathways where results suspicious for cancer will be fast tracked to the GP. The outline of these pathways is as below:
There is a lot of helpful information for patients on the NHS Lothian Radiology page.
Identification of non-medical or non-dental healthcare professionals entitled to act as Referrer
