Ultrasound and Imaging Services

Ultrasound scans are available at both the John Radcliffe (JR) Hospital and the Horton General Hospital, but specialist scans are only available at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Contact us

John Radcliffe Hospital Maternity Ultrasound

Tel: 01865 221715

Email: maternity.ultrasound@ouh.nhs.uk

Horton General Hospital Ultrasound

Tel: 01295 229453

Dating / nuchal scan

This early ultrasound scan provides important information about the number of babies present and the expected date of delivery.

The fetal heart can be seen from six weeks gestation by vaginal scan, and from eight to nine weeks by abdominal scan. Accurate measurements and images are taken of the gestational sac and the 'crown to rump' length of the embryo, to accurately date the pregnancy.

If you would like to have the combined screening for Downs, Edwards and Patau's syndrome, further measurements will be taken and you will have a blood test following the scan.

Results will be posted to you and usually take 7-10 working days. You will receive a phone call if the results come back with a higher chance of your baby being affected by one of these conditions.

Please have a full bladder for this exam.

For more information please visit:

Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome guidance - gov.uk

20 week scan (physical conditions)

At 18+0 to 20+6 weeks we offer to scan your baby to assess the major systems of the body to ensure they are developing as we would expect. Careful measurements of the baby are taken to monitor the baby's wellbeing.

At this scan your uterine artery dopplers will be measured. These measurements help us to detect those babies who may have a higher chance of not growing as we expect, and may in turn lead to you developing high blood pressure.

Based on these measurements we will recommend you are placed on one of three pathways, which may mean you are offered additional scans during your pregnancy.

We will discuss which pathway we recommend and what this means for your pregnancy at the time.

36 week scan

This scan checks the baby is growing as expected, identifies babies that are not head down and also enables us to identify which babies may benefit from closer monitoring until the end of pregnancy.

Scan images

These are £5 per image - card payment only and should be purchased before your scan appointment via a token machine in the waiting room.

Images after the 20 week scan may be difficult to obtain and therefore not of a good quality due to the size and position of your baby.

We recommend not purchasing any images after the 20 week scan.

Children at scan appointments

Your ultrasound scan is a medical examination important for your wellbeing and that of your baby. Your sonographer needs to concentrate fully to obtain accurate images and measurements and provide the best care.

For this reason, please do not bring children to your appointment, unless you have no alternative. We may ask your companion to take children out of the scan room if they distract your sonographer.