Our specialties

We have two angiography suites at Peterborough City Hospital. One is dedicated to diagnostic imaging of the heart (Cardiac Catheter lab) and the other is used for diagnostic and treatment procedures of other body areas (Interventional Radiology Theatre). 

Angiography involves injecting a special dye called contrast into your blood vessels in order to examine them. It is often used to identify any areas that are narrowing (Stenoses), which can be re-opened to enable better blood flow using a special 'balloon' (Angioplasty). 

A CT scan can help diagnose & monitor many health conditions including of the brain, internal organs, soft tissue and all joints and bones.

The scanners use X-rays to provide highly detailed images of slices through the body as well as 3-D reconstructions.

The scanners are not tunnels; they are doughnut-shaped with an opening in the middle. You will lie on the scan table which moves though the opening as images are obtained.  CT scanners are not particularly noisy, and you won’t feel anything while the scan is taking place. However, you will need to keep very still as movement can affect the quality of the images.

You may be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds during your scan.

Sometimes, a contrast media is used to make certain tissues more visible. If this is the case, the contrast will be administered as an injection into a vein in your arm or the back of your hand.

Most people cope easily with a CT scan, but please speak with the Radiographer if you are anxious. You will be able to go home and carry on as normal afterwards.

If a contrast media is used in your examination, you will be asked to wait in the department for 30 minutes. 

We provide scanning for all the areas in the hospital, the Emergency Department, Theatres, Intensive Care, Paediatrics, Outpatients and all the wards. Although we will always try and stick to appointment times, sometimes an emergency patient from these area’s will need to be fitted into the scanner before the appointment time so you can run a bit late. We endeavour to inform you if this is happening.

Dental radiography is used to produce images of the teeth, bones and surrounding soft tissues to screen for, and help identify, dental problems. Dental X-ray images can show cavities, cancerous or benign masses, hidden wisdom teeth and bone loss that cannot be seen during the visual examination of the mouth by the dentist.

DEXA stands for Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry which enables bone mineral density to be measured accurately and reproducibly. This will determine whether or not you have osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) so that treatment can be given.

You will lie on a couch while the scanning arm moves slowly over the area being scanned. You will not go into a tunnel or tube.

The lumbar spine (lower back) and one hip are scanned, so allow approximately 20 minutes for your examination. If you have mobility problems the scan may take longer. The Radiographer will remain in the room with you.

Telephone number: 

• Peterborough: 01733 678373
• Hinchingbrooke: 01480 416130

Fluoroscopy uses dynamic x-ray pictures to examine the body or guide treatment in real time and can also take continuous images of contrast (X-ray dye) moving through a patient’s body.  

Fluoroscopy examinations take longer than conventional X-ray examinations. This means you may need to wait for the contrast to move through your body before the examination can proceed.

Telephone number: 

• Peterborough: 01733678373
• Hinchingbrooke: 01480416130

We provide a comprehensive range of MRI services at Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford and Rutland Hospital to our patients across Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

Our team consistently provide our patients and their healthcare professionals with a high level of care and satisfaction. We operate a 7-day MRI service.

We are proud to operate state-of the-art diagnostic MRI technology which allows us to acquire high quality imaging which leads to accurate diagnosis and better patient comfort.

Telephone number: 01733 678378

• CS170 - MRI Patient Safety Questionnaire[pdf] 186KB
• CS171 - MRI Patient Information [pdf] 131KB

Nuclear Medicine imaging provides unique information that often cannot be obtained using other imaging procedures and offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages. 

At Peterborough City Hospital we operate two Nuclear Medicine Gamma Camera scanners one of which is combined with a CT scanner.  

In Nuclear Medicine specialist Radiographers inject patients with a radioactive isotope, which moves through the body to areas of interest and then emit radiation to highlight these areas to the scanners.

Some patients visiting Nuclear Medicine come for an injection in the morning and return in the afternoon for imaging once the radiation has reached the area of interest.

Others have imaging immediately after the injection to show, for example kidney function or blood flow to the limbs or lungs.

Telephone: 01733 678373

Our friendly team of Advanced Practitioners in Ultrasound, also known as Sonographers, use Ultrasound machines to image in real time. Ultrasound uses soundwaves instead of radiation.

While it is often associated with pregnancy scans, giving detailed images of the developing foetus at various stages of the pregnancy. It is also a vital tool used to help us image organs, soft tissue, muscles and blood vessels in the body.

During the examination, the Sonographer will use Ultrasound gel and a probe (which is a small handheld device attached to the Ultrasound machine) – to scan over the area of interest. Sometimes this involves a little pressure, but these scans should not be painful and the Sonographer will do their upmost to ensure you are comfortable during the examination.

Please note that we have both male and female Sonographers.

Please ask the Sonographer if you would like a chaperone during your scan. There are Health Care Assistants / Medical Imaging Assistants working in the ultrasound department and so a chaperone is available for you.    

Telephone number: 01480 428998                     

X-ray examinations where we produce images of the chest, abdomen and skeleton using small doses of radiation. The images are reported to help diagnose many health conditions such as fractures, inflammation and underlying signs of disease. 

You may be asked to wear an X-ray gown for the examination, particularly if you are wearing clothing which contains metal (e.g., buttons and zips).  The Radiographer will then take X-rays in different positions to help make a successful diagnosis. 

Most X-rays take less than 10 minutes, but some examinations may take longer if a number of body areas require X-rays. 

Telephone Number: 

• Peterborough, Stamford & City Care Centre: 01733 678373,
• Hinchingbrooke: 01480416130,
• Princess of Wales Hospital: 01353644220,
• Doddington Hospital: 01354743003