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Paediatric Radiology

Checked: 26-02-2024 by Vicky Ryan Next Review: 25-02-2026

Overview

The following guide is for children aged under 16. Patients aged 16 and over can be referred using adult services.

Plain X-rays and some USS can be directly requested by GPs - see details in the sections below.

CT/MRI scans cannot be ordered directly by GPs for under 16 year olds in BNSSG. They should be referred to the appropriate speciality where a paediatrician will order if necessary.

Local Guidelines and exclusions

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC)

The Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC) will accept appropriate requests from Primary Care for X-Ray and Ultrasound. These should be submitted on ICE*.

(*If UHB ICE is not available to your practice then requests may be e-mailed to: radiologyadminbch@uhbw.nhs.uk using this referral form. Please check list of exclusions below before ordering. To request a UH Bristol ICE connection please email itservicedesk@uhbristol.nhs.uk)

Queries regarding reports ONLY can be e-mailed to: radiologyreportqueriesbrhc@uhbw.nhs.uk

Exclusions:

X-Ray

spinal X-ray for scoliosis -needs to come from orthopaedics
Abdominal X-ray for constipation
Poor clinical details

Testicular Ultrasound

Possible inguinal hernias - advice is to refer to surgeons if concerns about hernias in children (unlike in adults no CBA policy applies in children)
Possible hydrocele - should be diagnosed clinically and referral made if indicated. See the local Paediatric surgery including urology guidelines. The Hydroceles- Surgical Removal – under 16 years of age Prior Approval Policy also applies)
Possible undescended testis - patients should be referred to paediatric urologist if indicated - please see local Paediatric surgery including urology guidelines. US confirmation is rarely needed.
Mass/ possible malignancy - patients should be referred on the urgent suspected cancer pathway and paediatric urology will arrange review and imaging.
Patients with examination findings that are not felt to be malignant (e.g. epididymal cyst, varicocele) can be referred for a routine testicular ultrasound but if there is a clinical suspicion of cancer, then please manage on the urgent suspected cancer pathway.

North Bristol Trust (NBT)

NBT will accept appropriate requests from Primary Care for paediatric X-Ray. These should be submitted on ICE

X-ray – Plain X-rays for children can be requested at NBT via an ICE request.

Ultrasound scans – Primary Care cannot refer to NBT for ultrasound scans for patients under 16 year olds. Some are carried out internally on request of NICU/Paeds team at NBT.

All other paediatric US requests should go to BRHC as above (please check list of exclusions above before ordering).

Weston General Hospital (WGH)

WGH will accept appropriate requests from Primary Care for paediatric X-Ray. These should be submitted on ICE.

Ultrasound scans – WGH do not do ultrasound scans on patients under 16 years old.

All paediatric US requests should go to BRHC as above (please check list of exclusions above before ordering).

Radiology Queries

See Radiology advice and queries page for contact details of radiology departments.

Referral

All referrals for paediatric radiology should be submitted via ICE as advised above.

BRHC

Requests should be made via ICE (or email if this is not available to your practice -see section above).

For X-ray requests, parents should then contact the hospital to book the appointment within 2 weeks of the referral. The leaflet is downloadable in ICE (same leaflet for adults and children) or see below:

Patient leaflet for plain imaging requests (x-ray)

For USS requests, submit request via ICE and an appointment will be sent to the parents.

NBT

Requests should be made via ICE.

Please see restrictions in the section above.

WGH

Requests should be made via ICE.

Please see restrictions in the section above.

Patients who require sedation will need referral to BRHC

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

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