Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We offer private GP consultations, ultrasound, digital X-ray, DEXA bone-density scanning, Dental CBCT imaging, blood tests and selected preventive health checks.

Some services can be booked directly. Others may require a referral or clinical triage before the appointment is confirmed, especially where imaging involves ionising radiation.

We are based at:

Elixier Diagnostics
Unit 5, Ground Floor
Fairways Office Park
Oliver’s Place
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 9LF

Designated on-site parking is available for patients.

You can book using our online booking form or contact our team by phone or email.

Before confirming some appointments, we may ask for referral information, medical history, safety screening details or the reason for the test. This helps us make sure the appointment is suitable and safe.

X-ray, DEXA and Dental CBCT use ionising radiation and cannot simply be booked as an unrestricted test. An appropriate clinical request/referral and justification process is required. If you do not already have a referral, contact us and we will explain whether an internal clinical assessment/referral pathway is available for the examination you need.

This depends on your insurer, your policy and whether pre-authorisation is required. Please check with your insurer before booking. You may need to provide your membership number, authorisation code and claim details.

If your insurer does not cover the full cost, you may remain responsible for any shortfall, excess or non-covered service.

Individual service prices are shown on each service page, and every preventive health package shows its price. If you are not sure which service or package you need, contact us or book a short GP review and we will advise. A full price list is available on our website.

Please bring:

• Photo ID if requested
• Your referral letter or form, if applicable
• Any previous relevant reports or imaging, if available
• A list of current medicines and allergies
• Your glasses, hearing aids, communication aids or mobility aids if needed
• Insurance authorisation details, if using insurance

For children, please bring details of the parent or person with parental responsibility attending the appointment.

Yes, you may usually bring a family member, friend, carer or support person. In some clinical areas, we may need to limit who enters the room for privacy, infection prevention, space or radiation safety reasons.

For X-ray, DEXA and Dental CBCT, companions cannot normally remain in the controlled area during an exposure unless this is specifically justified and safely managed.

Yes. You can ask for a chaperone at any time. We routinely offer a chaperone for intimate examinations and for examinations that may feel sensitive, embarrassing or distressing.

If a suitable chaperone is not available and one is needed, we may rearrange the appointment.

Results are usually sent to the referring clinician, dentist, GP or other authorised professional, depending on the service and referral route. Where appropriate, results may also be shared with you directly.

Before we release results or confidential information, we must confirm your identity and check that we are sending information to the correct person.

If a result suggests an urgent or serious finding, we will follow our urgent findings and escalation process. This may include contacting the referring clinician, advising urgent medical review, or directing you to emergency or urgent NHS services where appropriate.

Elixier Diagnostics is not an emergency department, so some urgent situations may need NHS emergency or specialist care.

Please contact us as early as possible. We aim to be fair and flexible, especially where there is illness, family emergency, transport difficulty, pregnancy concern, infection risk, anxiety, accessibility need or another genuine reason.

Cancellation, rescheduling and refund decisions are managed in line with our Booking, Payment, Rescheduling, Cancellation and Refund Policy.

The cancellation policy can be found under section 5 of Legal, Data and Access

Sometimes we may need to cancel or rearrange an appointment because of staff illness, equipment problems, emergencies, incomplete referral information, safety concerns or events outside our control. We will give as much notice as reasonably possible, offer an alternative appointment where possible, and provide a refund if we cannot offer a suitable alternative or you do not wish to rebook.

Elixier Diagnostics is operated by Jaaam Radiology Services Ltd and is CQC registered.

A private GP consultation is an appointment with a doctor to discuss a health concern, review symptoms, consider treatment options and agree next steps. This may include advice, examination, medication review, private prescription, onward referral, medical certificates or fitness-for-work evidence where clinically appropriate.

No. You can usually book a private GP appointment directly.

A private GP can help with many common health concerns, including new symptoms, ongoing problems, medication reviews, general health advice, blood test requests, imaging referrals, medical certificates or fitness-for-work evidence where clinically appropriate.

Private GP appointments are not suitable for life-threatening emergencies.

Following an appropriate assessment, our GP may be able to provide private medical evidence regarding your fitness for work. Private patients are generally provided with a private medical certificate or report rather than an NHS Med3 fit note. Acceptance may depend on your employer or the organisation requesting the evidence.

Yes, where clinically appropriate. The GP may arrange blood tests, ultrasound, X-ray, DEXA or other investigations. Some tests may require additional safety checks, referral information or separate appointment booking.

Yes, where clinically appropriate and within the scope of the service. The GP will consider your medical history, allergies, current medicines and whether the medication is safe and suitable.

Some medicines may not be available through private consultation, and some requests may need NHS, specialist or urgent care instead.

Appointment length depends on the booking type and the concern being discussed. Many appointments are around 15–30 minutes, but some concerns may need longer or a follow-up appointment.

We normally ask for your consent to share relevant information with your NHS GP or another clinician involved in your care, particularly where medication is started or changed, follow-up is required, or sharing information is important for safe continuity of care. If you prefer information not to be shared, please discuss this with the GP. In some circumstances, it may not be safe to prescribe or continue treatment without appropriate information sharing.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. It does not use ionising radiation. It can help assess organs, soft tissues, muscles, tendons, joints, lumps, bumps and some causes of pain or swelling.

Our ultrasound services may include abdominal, pelvic, musculoskeletal and soft-tissue ultrasound, depending on clinical suitability and availability.

Some scans may require referral information or triage before booking.

Ultrasound does not use ionising radiation and is widely used in healthcare. It is generally painless and non-invasive. The scan should still be clinically appropriate for the question being asked.

Preparation depends on the type of scan.

For some abdominal scans, you may be asked not to eat for a few hours. For some pelvic scans, you may be asked to attend with a full bladder. For musculoskeletal or soft-tissue scans, there may be little or no preparation.

We will give you instructions before your appointment.

You may be asked to lie on an examination couch. A clear gel is applied to the skin, and the clinician moves a handheld probe over the area being examined. You may feel pressure, but the scan should not usually be painful.

You may be asked to change position or hold your breath briefly to help obtain clearer images.

Most ultrasound appointments take around 15–30 minutes, depending on the area being scanned and the clinical question.

Your scan will be reviewed and reported through the agreed reporting pathway. Results are usually sent to your referrer or authorised clinician. The timescale depends on the scan type, reporting pathway and whether any urgent findings need escalation.

An X-ray is a quick imaging test that uses a small amount of ionising radiation to produce images of bones, joints and some internal structures such as the chest.

It can help assess fractures, joint problems, chest infections and other conditions where X-ray is the appropriate first test.

Yes. X-ray involves ionising radiation, so the examination must be clinically justified before it is performed. This usually requires a referral from an appropriate healthcare professional or clinical triage through Elixier Diagnostics.

X-rays use ionising radiation, so they are only performed when the expected clinical benefit outweighs the small radiation risk. We follow radiation safety procedures to keep the dose as low as reasonably practicable while obtaining images suitable for diagnosis.

Common X-ray examinations include bones, joints and chest X-rays. The exact examination depends on the clinical question and referral information.

Most X-rays need little preparation. You may be asked to remove jewellery, watches, clothing with metal, bras with clips or other items that could affect the image. You may be asked to change into a gown.

Please tell us before the appointment if you are or could be pregnant.

The X-ray itself is painless. Some positioning may be uncomfortable if you are already in pain, but staff will help you as much as possible.

The exposure itself is very quick. The full appointment usually takes longer because we need to confirm identity, check the referral, complete safety questions, position you correctly and review image quality.

We accept children for selected X-ray examinations where this falls within our approved paediatric scope and the examination is clinically justified. Please contact us before booking so we can confirm suitability and any age-specific requirements.

Your X-ray images will be reviewed and reported by an appropriate reporting clinician. The report is usually sent to the referrer or authorised clinician. Urgent findings are escalated according to our urgent findings process.

We offer professional blood collection and selected blood testing services. This may include routine health checks, specific blood panels and point-of-care testing where available and clinically appropriate.

Phlebotomy appointments are also available where blood collection is needed for approved tests.

Some blood tests can be arranged through a private GP consultation or approved health check package. Some tests may require a referral or clinical review to ensure the correct test is requested and results are interpreted safely.

A trained member of staff takes a small sample of blood, usually from a vein in your arm. You may feel a brief scratch or pinch. A plaster or cotton wool dressing is usually applied afterwards.

The blood draw itself usually takes only a few minutes. Please allow extra time for check-in, identity verification, preparation and any aftercare advice.

Some blood tests require fasting, while others do not. We will tell you before your appointment if fasting is needed.

Unless you have been told not to, drinking water before a blood test is usually helpful.

Blood tests are generally safe. Some people may experience bruising, tenderness, dizziness or faintness. Please tell us if you have fainted during blood tests before, are needle-phobic, take blood-thinning medication, or have had difficult blood draws previously.

Timing depends on the test type and laboratory pathway. Some point-of-care results may be available sooner. Laboratory tests may take longer. Results should be reviewed in the right clinical context, especially if they are abnormal or require action.

A DEXA scan is a bone-density scan. It uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and help assess osteoporosis and fracture risk.

DEXA is commonly used to assess bone density, osteoporosis risk, fracture risk and bone-health monitoring where clinically appropriate.

At Elixier Diagnostics, DEXA is provided as a clinical bone-health investigation, not as a routine wellness or sports-performance scan.

Usually yes. DEXA involves ionising radiation, so the scan must be clinically appropriate and justified before it is performed.

DEXA uses a very low dose of radiation. It is still an ionising radiation test, so we only perform it when it is clinically appropriate and after required safety checks.

You can usually eat and drink normally unless told otherwise. You may be asked to avoid calcium supplements before the scan if this is relevant to your appointment. Wear comfortable clothing without metal fastenings where possible.

Please tell us if you are or could be pregnant, or if you have recently had contrast imaging or nuclear medicine tests.

You lie on a scanning table while the scanner passes over the area being measured, commonly the hip and spine. The scan is painless, and you remain clothed unless clothing affects the image.

A typical DEXA appointment usually takes around 10–20 minutes, plus time for check-in and safety checks.

Your result will be reviewed and reported through the agreed clinical pathway. It may include bone-density measurements and interpretation for your referring clinician or GP.

Dental CBCT, also called cone beam CT or 3D dental CT, is a specialist imaging test that creates detailed 3D images of the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures.

It is often used for implant planning, complex root or tooth assessment, impacted teeth, jaw assessment and selected dental or maxillofacial questions.

No. CBCT gives 3D information, while many routine dental X-rays provide 2D images. CBCT can show more detail, but it also involves a higher radiation dose than many simple dental X-rays, so it should only be used when the additional information is needed.

Yes. CBCT is not a routine dental screening scan. It is provided where there is a clear dental or clinical indication, supported by a referral from an appropriate dental or medical professional and confirmed through our clinical triage and radiation safety checks.

You can ask your dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon or implant clinician to refer you directly to Elixier Diagnostics where needed.

CBCT uses ionising radiation. We use referral checks, justification, appropriate field of view and dose optimisation to keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable while obtaining the information needed for care.

No special preparation is usually needed. You may be asked to remove glasses, earrings, jewellery, hair clips, removable dental appliances or other items that could affect the scan.

Please tell us if you may be pregnant or have any concerns before the scan.

You will be positioned carefully, usually standing or sitting still while the scanner rotates around your head. The scan itself is quick and painless. It is important to keep still to avoid blurred images.

The scan may take less than a minute, but the full appointment takes longer because of check-in, identity verification, referral checks, positioning and image-quality review.

The images and report are usually sent to your referring dentist, implant clinician, orthodontist, oral surgeon or authorised referrer, depending on the referral route.

Preventive health checks are structured assessments designed to help identify selected health risks earlier and support better decision-making about lifestyle, monitoring or onward care.

They may combine clinical assessment, blood tests, imaging and risk review depending on the package and clinical suitability.

Depending on the package, a health check may include selected blood markers, blood pressure, body measurements, lifestyle review, private GP review, ultrasound, DEXA or other investigations where appropriate.

Not every test is suitable for every person. We will advise what is clinically appropriate and avoid tests that are unlikely to help or may create unnecessary anxiety.

Health checks can help assess risk and identify markers that may need monitoring or follow-up. They cannot guarantee that a person will or will not develop a condition.

Some tests may produce false reassurance, false positives or findings that need further investigation. We aim to explain benefits and limitations clearly.

Not always. Some people book because of family history, age, lifestyle concerns, previous results or a desire to understand their health risks better.

However, if you have new or worrying symptoms, it may be more appropriate to book a GP consultation first so the right pathway is chosen.

Where included in your package, results can be reviewed with a clinician and explained in context. You may receive advice, follow-up recommendations or a referral to your NHS GP, private specialist or urgent care pathway if needed.

No. Suitability depends on age, symptoms, medical history, pregnancy status, risk factors and the type of test being considered. Some tests are not suitable as screening tests and should only be used where clinically indicated.

No; private preventive assessments do not replace NHS national screening programmes or routine NHS care.

Please tell us before your appointment if you need additional support. This may include a longer appointment, accessible information, help with mobility, hearing or communication support, a quiet waiting arrangement, interpreter support or a chaperone.

Wheelchair access (step free) and accessible parking is available on the site.

Yes. We handle patient information confidentially and only share it where there is a lawful reason, consent, referral pathway, safety need or professional requirement.

Before discussing appointments, results or clinical information, we may ask identity-check questions.

Where appropriate and with the correct consent or lawful basis, we can share relevant results or clinical information with your NHS GP or another healthcare professional involved in your care.

You can raise a concern by speaking to member of staff, calling us, or asking to speak to manager on duty, posting your complain or email complaints@elixierdiagnostics.uk with the subject line "Complaint". For more information please read our Complaints policy.