Heel Bone ultrasound scan

[osteon2]

Today I had a heel Bone ultrasound scan at a very wonderful private osteoporosis clinic in finchley London. It only cost me £40 for 15min consultation. And my T score & Z score were not to bad. Last scan I had was a dexa scan over two years ago & that cost me over £260 private. Basically I found the heel Bone ultrasound scan service better than dexa scan & for price. Best £40 spent today 😀.

[HeronNS]

And how did the two scores compare?

[veriterc]

What you report highlights something that has been puzzling me. Last time I had a DEXa scan in an NHS hospital, my insurer paid £120. A friend in Italy pays £40. Somehow I feel NHS is making money from private patients, but don't have full info. Would be interesting to know, particularly as when the family paid for me to be treated privately in NHS Foundation Hospital when I had had multiple fractures, they found out that staff were HCAs, and no sister in charge of private wing, only SRN. So they moved me to King Edward VII private hospital - same daily fee, but ALL nurses were 'proper' nurses, and Sister and Matron definitely in charge. NHS 'private' charges need looking in to.

[Posy-White]

Thank you for this news.

Two general things to bear in mind (I learnt this from a new Consultant) -

There may be a slight, all be it small, variation in readings between different types of machines (!!).

Different bone areas may have differing levels of bone density. (Something which I had not really fully understood, I thought it would only be a small amount of differences).

For me my hips showed mid Osteopenia range, spine showed I was clearly in the Osteoporosis range.

Having said that I do agree your £40 is a price worth paying to get a snap shot and peace of mind.

All the best

Posy White