Northern Beaches Mackay

• Our team will provide any specific instructions at the time of booking and these should be followed carefully.
• We recommend wearing a separate top and bottoms during your appointment as this makes changing for the examination easier.
• If you are pregnant or there is a possibility of you being pregnant, please let our staff know before your examination.

You may be asked to change into a hospital gown for your scan to ensure clothing does not affect the quality of the scan. You may also be asked to remove any jewellery, glasses or other metal objects that could affect the image quality.

For some CT scans, it may be recommended to have an injection of contrast material (or CT contrast dye). This will be discussed with you prior to your examination.

A CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped machine with a bed passing through the middle. You will be asked to lie on the bed as still as you can to improve the diagnostic accuracy. The bed will move through the scanner to acquire your images.

Throughout the CT you will be able to communicate with the radiographer performing your scan.

You may be given breathing instructions to follow. The radiographer performing your examination will explain this to you before your scan.

A CT scan can take between 5 minutes and 30 minutes depending on which part of the body is scanned and whether you require a contrast injection.

To book a CT appointment with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here. 

The cost of scans is subject to variation based on several factors. We will inform you of the CT scan price at the time of booking. If you have any questions about costs or Medicare eligibility, please feel free to contact us, and one of our team members will be happy to assist you with your query.

CT scans are a powerful diagnostic tool that can detect life-threatening conditions such as haemorrhage, blood clots, and cancer. Early detection of these conditions can be lifesaving.

A CT scanner uses X-rays, which produce ionising radiation that have the potential to cause biological effects in living tissue. The risk of developing cancer from X-ray radiation exposure is minimal.

It is important to note that in almost all cases the benefits of a CT scan outweigh the risks associated with radiation exposure. If you have any concerns about your upcoming CT scan, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your doctor.

Preparation before your ultrasound scan is very important. Please follow the instructions given to you at the time of booking carefully and thoroughly.

In some cases, you will be asked to fast. This means you should not eat, drink or chew anything 4-6 hours before your appointment. A sip of water is allowed for hydration purposes.

For some ultrasound scans, you will be required to have a full or partially full bladder. You will be able to empty your bladder as soon as the scan is over.

If you have any questions about the preparation for your scan, please contact the practice where your appointment is booked.

For an ultrasound scan, you will generally be required to lie down on an examination table or bed. During the scan, the area of interest will be exposed, with the rest of your body remaining covered to ensure your privacy and comfort. Queensland X-Ray’s highly-trained ultrasound technologists (known as sonographers), will place gel onto your skin and will then place the transducer in the area that is being studied. A moving image is shown instantly on a monitor screen.

Ultrasound is generally regarded as safe as you are not exposed to ionising radiation like some other forms of medical imaging (e.g. X-rays, CT scans). Instead, ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to show images inside the body. Please discuss any concerns with your referring practitioner.

All ultrasounds at Queensland X-Ray Mackay Northern Beaches are performed by sonographers who are highly trained and accredited professionals. Our quality team consists of male and female sonographers who are qualified to perform all diagnostic ultrasound imaging including breast imaging.

At Queensland X-Ray Mackay Northern Beaches, we understand that women have unique health concerns. If you would like to ensure a female sonographer performs your ultrasound services then please consider booking at one of our Women’s Imaging Centres. 

At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and ultrasound results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here.

To book an ultrasound online with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here.