How Much Does an EOS Scan in London Cost?
For patients travelling from abroad, the price of an EOS scan at ScanAlign is confirmed during the free video consultation. The scan comes as one full package. Every scan includes a detailed radiologist report and a free video consultation beforehand. So you know exactly what you are paying for before you commit.
Key takeaways
- For patients travelling from abroad, the price is confirmed during the free video consultation.
- Every scan includes a specialist radiologist report, not just raw images.
- A free video consultation is offered before any scan, so there is no upfront cost to explore your options.
- You do not need a referral letter from your doctor. You can self-refer as a private patient.
- EOS uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less.
If you are searching for "EOS scan cost", you may already know that this type of imaging is uncommon in the UK. That can make it hard to compare prices or to understand what you are actually getting. This page explains what the scan includes, why standing imaging offers different value from a standard scan, and how the price is set at ScanAlign.
What is included in an EOS scan?
An EOS scan at ScanAlign is more than just an image. It covers the full imaging and reporting process, from the moment you arrive at 19 Harley Street to the delivery of your results.
Before you book, a specialist talks through your symptoms with you and confirms whether EOS imaging is right for you.
A consultant radiologist reviews your images and writes a detailed report of the findings.
Full-length, weight-bearing images that capture your skeleton as it actually works when you are upright.
You can self-refer. You do not need a letter from your doctor, which saves you time and avoids extra appointments.
You receive your images and report digitally. You can share them with your doctor, consultant, physiotherapist or surgeon to guide your next steps.
Why is a standing scan priced differently from a standard X-ray?
A standard X-ray is usually taken lying down or focused on one small area. An EOS scan images your whole body while you stand. This means it captures your alignment under real weight-bearing conditions. This difference matters.
When you lie down, your muscles relax and your joints shift. Problems like a pelvic tilt, a leg-length difference, or a compensatory curve in your spine may flatten out and disappear from the image. Your body is a connected chain from your feet to your head. A problem in one area often forces another area to compensate. So the place that hurts may not be the place where the problem started.
Standing EOS imaging captures this full picture in a single scan. That is why it gives different information from a series of standard lying-down images.
Is a private EOS scan worth the cost?
That depends on your situation. You may have been through rounds of standard X-rays, physiotherapy or consultations without a clear answer. If so, a standing whole-body scan can reveal alignment issues that single-area, lying-down imaging simply cannot show.
Many people come to ScanAlign after months or years of unexplained back pain, hip pain or knee pain. They have had scans of individual areas that came back "normal", yet they are still in pain. A whole-body standing image often shows why, because it reveals how the areas relate to each other under gravity.
EOS also uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This matters most if you have already had several imaging sessions and want to keep further exposure as low as possible.
Before you start treatment, or change the one you are on, it is worth getting a detailed diagnosis. Knowing whether the cause sits in the pelvis, the legs or the spine changes what will actually help.
Not sure if EOS is right for you? The first video consultation is free and carries no obligation. A specialist will review your history and tell you whether standing imaging is likely to add useful information.
Book a free video consultationDoes health insurance cover an EOS scan?
Some private health insurance policies may cover diagnostic imaging, but cover for EOS specifically varies between providers and policies. ScanAlign is a self-pay clinic, which means you pay directly for the scan.
If you have health insurance, it is worth checking with your insurer before booking. Ask whether they cover "EOS imaging" or "standing whole-body X-ray", and whether they need a consultant referral for the claim. ScanAlign can provide an invoice and report documents that you can submit to your insurer.
Is EOS available through the NHS in the UK?
EOS scanners are not widely available on the NHS, the UK's public health service. Some NHS hospitals do have EOS machines, but access is usually limited to specific clinical pathways, often in orthopaedic or spinal surgery departments. Patients there would usually need a consultant referral within that hospital's system.
If you want a standing whole-body alignment scan without waiting for a referral, a private self-pay scan is the most straightforward route. You do not need a letter from your doctor to book with ScanAlign.
A note on what EOS does and does not show. EOS is excellent for imaging bones, joints and overall alignment. If your doctor suspects a soft-tissue problem such as a disc bulge, nerve compression or ligament damage, MRI is usually the better tool. The two scans answer different questions, and sometimes both are needed.
Frequently asked questions about EOS scan cost
For patients travelling from abroad, the price is confirmed during the free video consultation. The package covers a free video consultation before the scan, the standing whole-body EOS scan and a detailed report from a consultant radiologist.
No. ScanAlign accepts self-referrals. You can book directly without a letter from your doctor.
It includes a free video consultation before the scan, the standing whole-body EOS imaging itself, and a detailed report from a consultant radiologist.
Yes. The video consultation before your scan is free and carries no obligation. Its purpose is to check whether EOS imaging is right for your symptoms.
Cover depends on your policy. ScanAlign is a self-pay clinic, but you can ask for an invoice to submit to your insurer. Check with your provider whether they cover EOS imaging or standing X-ray.
EOS scanners are not widely available on the NHS in the UK. Access is usually limited to specific hospital departments and needs a consultant referral within that pathway.
EOS uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This makes it a lower-dose option, especially if you have had several previous scans.
They answer different questions. EOS shows bones, joints and whole-body alignment under weight-bearing conditions. MRI is better for soft tissue such as discs, nerves and ligaments. Sometimes both are needed.
A standing EOS scan captures full-length, weight-bearing images of your whole skeleton and includes a specialist radiologist report. It gives information about overall alignment that standard single-area X-rays cannot. That is why the process and pricing differ.
The scan itself is quick. It takes place at ScanAlign's clinic at 19 Harley Street, London. You can find more practical details on the FAQs page.
Find out if an EOS scan is right for you
The first step is a free video consultation, so you can speak to us before you plan any travel. A specialist will review your history and tell you whether standing imaging could help explain your symptoms.
Book a free video consultationExplore related topics
Author: Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
Sources
- Deschênes S, Charron G, Beaudoin G, et al. "Diagnostic imaging of spinal deformities: reducing patients' radiation dose with a new slot-scanning X-ray imager." Spine, 2010; 35(9): 989-994.
- NHS. "X-ray." NHS website, accessed 2024. nhs.uk/conditions/x-ray
- The Royal College of Radiologists. "iRefer: Making the best use of clinical radiology." RCR guidelines, 8th edition.
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.