Pregnancy scan pictures - How much?

kmeast

We received three scan pictures at 12 weeks and two at 20 weeks, but they were free. I'm shocked that they they can charge for these - who would decide not to have them?

(Although our health authority saves money by not offering epidurals - I would have paid thousands for one of those at the time!!):rotfl:

WestonDave

Thanks all for the responses - just wanted to do a bit of checking before I went into rant mode!

In response to some of the points made - the trust claim there is a risk from 12 week scans so they don't do them (yeah right!), they are also skint so I suspect this is a nice little earner as most people will cough up to get the picture. Yes we do live in a well off area - Bath - well the house prices are ridiculous, I'm not sure wages are that good, and the same trust covers large areas of rural Wiltshire where money is harder to come by.

In terms of problems to be fair they will do scans as required so we've actually already had two at 6 and 8 weeks due to concerns - obviously at that early a stage there isn't much to see, although its amazing to see a heartbeating at 6 weeks when the baby is only 4mm in length!

When you add on the £2.50 minimum parking charge it gets to be an expensive experience.

Don't get me wrong I don't begrudge whatever the going rate is to have the memory and to be able to share it with the little one when he/she is old enough but its a "National" Health Service so we should surely all be paying (or not) the same!

Sting_2

When my wife was pregnant (our daughter is now 1) we paid £2, but when we went to the same department for a hearing test I noticed it had gone up to £3. If you are interested we live in Leicestershire.

My sister who is now pregnant (and lives in Northamptonshire) is not only very impatient, but also quite rich, and couldn't wait for her 1st NHS scan so paid to have a scan done privately, it cost her £55.

£10 seems very steep. In our hospital there was a sign next to the machine which states the money is not for profit but for training of the staff.

rchddap1

We're thinking of getting some copies of our scans done. OH asked in Boots and said that they'd do copies at £1 per picture. Their machine was broken at the time though.

nats3006

well i had my scan in june this year and it cost £2!!

Becles

They didn't sell scan pictures when my 9 year old was born and I just had one scan at 20 weeks. When I had my 7 year old, I got the one scan at 20 weeks but was able to buy a picture for £1.

I'm expecting again now, and have a 12 week scan on Friday and can buy a picture for £2. I'll also get a scan at 20 weeks too.

All the babies were under the care of Durham hospital.

morg_monster

I'm sorry to be the devils advocate here, but I should think that a NHS trust in debt will see this kind of thing as a great way to make some much needed money without being controversial. EG - not prescribing a drug like herceptin to women with early stage breast cancer will attract a lot of unwanted attention (I know this example is a little out of date now), whereas charging £10 for a scan photo, people will moan (fair enough) but ultimately it isn't life saving and most people can afford it (although they probably have much better things to spend £10 on, especially getting ready for a new baby!).

I know it seems unfair but I suppose I'd rather they charged for these things and had a little more money in the pot to avoid cuts in more essential procedures and services. Also - obviously at £10 per print will recoup the cost in days - but am I right in thinking that a printer for the ultrasound machine is not essential for the mother/baby's care, and the printer will cost probably £100-1000 and with maintenance costs as well... I'm just saying it isn't a cost free service and I think on the whole the days are gone where the NHS can do things "out of the goodness of their hearts"!

Also it isn't the trusts fault that they have been asked to shed debts built up over years and years in just 12 months!

Feel free to berate me I won't take offence...!

cupid_s

morg_monster wrote:

I know it seems unfair but I suppose I'd rather they charged for these things and had a little more money in the pot to avoid cuts in more essential procedures and services.

I agree but this probably isn't the case and I am sure they are still making as many cuts elsewhere in the more essential services

Princessa_2

When I was pregnant last year I probably had about 10 scans or more as I was high risk (twins) and had one every fortnight at one point. We got a few 'pictures' each time. We went to two different hopitals, the first ne asked for a donation of £2.50 which went to the prem baby unit, which we gave (though there was just a sign saying it, they didn't actually ask for it) and the second hospital didn't charge.

Princessa_2

Baileys_Babe wrote:

I didn't pay anything last year, (box for donations). They were very generous with giving us images each time I went for a scan. Had about 17 scans in all.

You had 17 scans and didn't even leave a donation?