Ultrasound

An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body.

We use ultrasound to look at many different parts of the body, most commonly these include the abdomen, the pelvis, the leg and arm veins, the neck, joints and muscles. We perform this test on adults, children and babies, and unborn babies in the obstetric department (CWH).

The person who performs the scan is called a Sonographer, although some scans will be performed by a Consultant Radiologist

A small device called an ultrasound probe is used, which gives off high-frequency sound waves. You can't hear these sound waves, but when they bounce off different parts of the body, they create "echoes" that are picked up by a probe and turned into a moving image. This image is displayed on a monitor while the scan is being carried out.

You may be asked to change into a gown and then will be asked to lie or sit on a couch. A water-soluble gel will be placed on the part of your body that is to be examined. The probe is then moved over the skin to create the image. The examination is usually painless, however you may feel some pressure because sometimes the probe needs to be pressed firmly against your skin to get a clear picture.

More about us

We are a busy team made up of 16 to 18 sonographers who scan a wide range of examinations between us. We are supported by Consultant Radiologists who perform a lot of the specialist examinations.

We have five main ultrasound rooms at the RDE Wonford site where we scan our in-patients as well as out-patients but you will also find us in other areas of the hospital. We scan leg veins in the Same Day Emergency Care unit (SDEC) unit every morning Monday to Friday – these scans are to rule out clots in the veins (DVT’s), you will also find us scanning thyroids and necks in outpatients and baby hips in PEOC.

All the obstetric scans are performed in the Centre for Women’s Health where the team is made up of sonographers and midwife sonographers

We also have four scanning rooms for out-patient scans at the Nightingale Hospital. We provide a wide range of scans at this site but it is currently only for 16-year-olds plus.

We have three other community sites at which we scan outpatients: Axminster, Tiverton and Exmouth. If you feel that attending a community site for your scan would be more convenient due to its location please contact our appointments team who will be happy to advise if this is possible.

Contact us

We can be contacted via the main hospital switchboard on 01392 411611

To contact the Medical Imaging Team, call 01392 402 336

The team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

Alternatively, you can email us at: rduh.radiologyappointments@nhs.net

Where to find us

Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW

The Medical Imaging Department, Template M, Level 1

Meet the team

We are a busy team made up of 16 to 18 sonographers who scan a wide range of examinations between us. We are supported by Consultant Radiologists who perform a lot of the specialist examinations.

Patient information leaflets

Click here to see our patient information leaflets.

Children and young people

There are dedicated sessions with Paediatric Radiologists/sonographers but we can scan children at other times. We request that children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

Requesting copies of your scans

If you would like copies of your images on disc, please download and complete a Data Protection Act form. Please visit the 'Accessing your Medical Records' page for more information.

Once the signed form is returned to the department, we will process your request - this can take up to 30 days. There is no charge for this service.

Last updated: February 07, 2024

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