On-Site Diagnostic Imaging

Private X-ray for Suspected Fractures in Elstree

Same-day digital X-ray on-site for suspected simple fractures, sprains, and joint injuries. You see one of our experienced emergency medicine doctors, get the X-ray, and leave with a diagnosis and a treatment plan in a single visit — no GP referral, no waiting weeks for an appointment. Adults and children aged 1 and over.

Adult consultation £110 · child consultation £95 (ages 1–15) · X-ray fee additional. For severe injury, suspected major fracture with deformity, or suspected hip / spinal injury, please call 999or attend A&E.

Book Online Call 020 3327 7777

When We Can Help

When a Private X-ray Helps

If you’ve had a recent injury and suspect you may have broken or seriously injured something, on-site X-ray gets you a same-day answer rather than days waiting for a GP referral or hours waiting in A&E. Common presentations we see:

Wrist, hand, or forearm injury

After a fall on an outstretched hand — Colles' fracture, scaphoid injury, finger or thumb fractures.

Ankle or foot injury

After twisting or rolling — Ottawa Ankle and Foot Rules applied to identify which presentations warrant imaging.

Knee injury

After a twist, fall, or impact — Ottawa Knee Rule applies similar evidence-based thresholds.

Suspected rib fracture

After a fall or blunt trauma — chest pain on movement, breathing comfortable enough to attend.

Childhood limb injury (ages 1+)

Where you'd like imaging without an A&E wait. We see children's fractures.

"Have I broken it or just sprained it?"

Clinical examination plus X-ray usually answers definitively.

We apply the Ottawa Ankle and Foot Rules (BMJ-published clinical decision tools) and the Ottawa Knee Rule per NICE NG38guidance to identify which presentations clinically warrant imaging. You don’t need a GP referral. Walk in during opening hours, or book online for a guaranteed same-day slot.

Important Safety Information

When You Should Go to A&E, Not Us

Some injuries need emergency hospital care, not private urgent care. Call 999 or attend your nearest A&E if any of the following apply:

Call 999 or attend A&E if:

Open fracture (bone visible through skin) or limb at an unnatural angle
Suspected hip fracture — particularly in older adults after a fall, with inability to bear weight
Mechanism suggests significant force (high-speed road accident, fall from height, crush injury)
Numbness, tingling, severe pallor or coldness below the injury — possible neurovascular compromise
Head injury alongside the limb injury, especially with anticoagulant medication, vomiting, or any loss of consciousness
Suspected spinal injury — neck or back pain after trauma with any limb numbness, tingling, or weakness
A child with suspected fracture and any of the above features

For head injury alongside a limb injury, see also our head injury page and the NICE CG176 head injury guidelines. If you’re unsure, call NHS 111for free clinical advice — they will direct you to the right service.

Call 999

Your Visit

What Happens at Your Visit

Triage and assessment

On arrival, our triage nurse takes a quick history and assesses how urgent your presentation is. If you’ve booked online, your slot is held — you go straight through. An experienced emergency medicine doctor then takes a full history, examines the injured area for swelling, deformity, range of motion, and neurovascular status, and decides whether imaging is clinically indicated.

X-ray on site

If imaging is needed, the X-ray happens on site in our diagnostic suite. Standard plain-film X-ray for the suspected area — wrist, ankle, knee, foot, hand, ribs. The X-ray itself takes a few minutes; image processing is digital and instant. Total time from check-in to X-ray complete is typically 20–40 minutes.

Reporting and diagnosis

Your X-ray is reviewed by the emergency medicine doctor in the same visit — you leave with a diagnosis, not a referral letter waiting for a radiologist’s report. For more complex or ambiguous findings, we may request a formal radiologist report, which follows by email within 24 hours.

Treatment same visit

Depending on what the X-ray shows:

Simple fracture, undisplaced: Splinting or simple casting on site, pain management, sling if appropriate, follow-up plan.
Sprain or strain (no fracture): PRICE / POLICE protocol guidance, strapping or splinting, graded mobilisation advice.
Suspected complex or unstable fracture: Stabilise and pain-manage on site, immediate onward referral to Centennial's orthopaedic consultants — arranged during your visit, no external letter needed.
Anything we can't manage on site: Onward referral or transfer to the appropriate hospital service, with full documentation handed over.

You leave with a clear written discharge summary, prescriptions from our on-site pharmacy if needed, and a follow-up plan.

Transparent Pricing

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

Consultation fee:£110 for adults (16+), £95 for children (1–15). Covers your assessment by an emergency medicine doctor.

X-ray fee: additional, charged separately. We always explain costs before proceeding so there are no surprises.

Treatment costs— splinting, casting, dressings, prescriptions — charged at cost where applicable, explained in advance.

Time on site:typically 60–90 minutes for assessment, X-ray, treatment, and discharge. Faster if walk-in is quiet; longer if onward referral is needed.

Insurance:we provide detailed receipts (with diagnosis codes and treatment summary) for submission to your insurer. We don’t currently offer direct billing — patients tell us submit-receipt is faster overall.

After Your Visit

Aftercare and Follow-Up

You leave with a written discharge summary covering:

The clinical findings and diagnosis
The treatment provided on the day
Pain management plan and any prescriptions
Activity guidance — what to do, what to avoid, when to start gradual mobilisation
A specific follow-up timeframe — typically 7–10 days for a simple fracture review, sooner for sprains
Red-flag symptoms that should bring you back urgently: increased pain, numbness or pins-and-needles, fingers or toes turning pale or cold, fever or wound discharge for any open injury

We can send a copy of the discharge letter to your GP on request. Follow-up review can happen with us, with our orthopaedic consultants at Centennial, or with your own GP — whatever fits your care.

Common Questions

Common Questions about Private X-ray

Do I need a GP referral for a private X-ray?

No. You can walk in or book online directly. Our emergency medicine doctor decides during your consultation whether an X-ray is clinically indicated — there's no separate referral letter step. Most patients are imaged within 30 minutes of arriving, with results read in the same visit.

How much does a private X-ray cost?

Your visit cost has two parts: a consultation fee (£110 adult, £95 child) which covers the doctor's assessment, plus an X-ray fee charged separately when imaging is needed. We always explain the total cost before proceeding so there are no surprises.

How quickly will I get the result?

Same visit. Our digital X-ray system produces images instantly, and your treating doctor reviews them while you're still on site. You typically leave with a diagnosis, treatment, and discharge summary within 60-90 minutes of arrival — not days waiting for a separate radiology report.

Will you put me in a cast?

We can apply simple casts and splints on site for uncomplicated fractures. For complex or unstable fractures, we'll stabilise and refer immediately to our orthopaedic consultants at Centennial Medical, no external letter needed.

What if the X-ray shows it's not a fracture?

That's a good outcome — you've ruled out a serious injury. The doctor will explain what they think the injury is (most often a sprain, strain, or contusion), give you a treatment plan, pain management advice, and a clear timeline for recovery. We can arrange physiotherapy referral through Centennial if needed.

Do you treat children's fractures?

Yes — children aged 1 and over. Our emergency medicine doctors are experienced in paediatric urgent care, including children's X-rays. We use child-appropriate dose protocols and our team is trained in distraction techniques to keep children calm. We don't see children under 1; for younger infants with suspected injury, contact your GP, NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency.

Walk In or Book Online

Same-Day, No GP Referral, Diagnosis in One Visit

Our clinicians are GMC-registered emergency medicine doctors — the same specialists who staff hospital urgent care and emergency departments. We’re CQC registered and operate as part of Centennial Medical Care, with more than 70 consultants and healthcare professionals across 26 specialties.

Emergency medicine doctors Centennial Medical network CQC registered

Open seven days:Mon–Fri 8am–8pm · Sat–Sun 9am–6pm

Centennial Park, Centennial Ave, Elstree, Borehamwood WD6 3FG · Free on-site parking

Book Online Call 020 3327 7777 See all services →

Last reviewed: 5 May 2026

Need urgent care? We’re here to help.

Walk in 7 days a week or book online. Payment taken securely at the time of booking.

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