Where Can You Get Paediatric Imaging in London?
In London, paediatric imaging is offered by several private clinics and by NHS hospitals. If you want a low dose, standing, whole-body scan for your child or teenager, paediatric imaging at ScanAlign uses EOS technology at 19 Harley Street. EOS gives about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. It scans the whole skeleton in one standing image.
Key takeaways
- In London, paediatric imaging is available through the NHS and several private clinics, including clinics with EOS technology.
- EOS captures the full skeleton while your child stands, using about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray.
- A standing scan shows alignment while the body carries its real weight. Lying-down scans can miss this.
- A parent or guardian can stay in the room during the scan.
- You do not need a referral for a private paediatric scan at ScanAlign.
Why does a child's scan need a different approach?
Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults because their cells are still dividing quickly. A scan that is perfectly fine for an adult may give a young person a dose that is higher than needed. That is why paediatric radiology uses low dose protocols made for smaller, growing bodies.
Dose is not the only thing. Children also need a calm, quick visit. Long scan times, loud tunnel scanners and being asked to lie still for many minutes can be stressful. The best paediatric imaging services keep the appointment short. They explain every step in words that suit the child's age, and they let a parent stay in the room the whole time.
What should you look for in a children's scan service?
A good paediatric imaging service brings together clinical quality and a child-friendly setting. These are the things that matter most.
Less time in the scanner means less stress and less chance of blur from movement.
Equipment and settings set up specifically for children's smaller bodies.
A parent or guardian should be able to stay with the child during the scan.
Radiographers who are trained and experienced in scanning children and young people.
To learn how the EOS system keeps radiation to a minimum, read about EOS scan safety and radiation.
Why does a standing scan show more than a lying-down scan?
Most ordinary X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are taken with the patient lying flat. When a child lies down, gravity is taken out of the picture. The muscles relax and the spine straightens a little. The pelvis, hips and knees settle into positions they never take in daily life. This can hide alignment problems that only show up under the body's own weight.
Weight-bearing, real-life position. The skeleton carries weight exactly as it does when the child walks, stands or sits at school. Curves in the spine, tilts in the pelvis and differences in leg length all show as they truly are.
EOS captures the whole body from head to foot in one standing image. This means every joint can be checked against every other joint. The body is a connected chain. A problem in the foot or ankle can cause the body to shift higher up to make up for it, causing pain in the back or hip. A whole-body standing image shows these links.
Gravity removed. A lying-down scan relaxes the muscles and lets the skeleton settle. A curve in the spine may look smaller than it really is. A pelvic tilt may disappear. A difference in leg length may not show at all.
Lying-down scans are still useful in many situations. But for questions about alignment and posture, they can make the problem look smaller than it is.
Read more about EOS imaging for growing spines and why the standing position matters while a child is growing.
What happens during a paediatric scan at ScanAlign?
The process is simple and planned to keep young patients comfortable.
You and your child talk with our team on a video call from home. We check whether an EOS scan is the right next step and answer your questions. You do not need a referral.
You come to the clinic in central London. The appointment is short, and a parent or guardian stays in the room the whole time.
Your child stands still in the open EOS scanner. There is no tunnel and no loud noise. The system takes a full-body image in seconds, using about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less.
A specialist radiologist reviews the images and writes a detailed alignment report. You can share this report with your child's specialist doctor, physiotherapist or family doctor to guide treatment decisions.
Which children benefit most from a standing alignment scan?
A standing whole-body scan is especially helpful for young people with alignment or posture concerns that ordinary scans have not fully explained.
- Suspected scoliosis, or a spinal curve being checked over time
- Back, hip or knee pain with no clear cause
- A difference in leg length or a pelvic tilt
- Posture concerns during a growth spurt
- Alignment checks before or after surgery
- Soft-tissue injuries (muscle, tendon, ligament tears)
- Suspected disc problems or nerve compression
- Brain, organ or abdominal concerns
- Very young children who cannot stand still on their own
A note on MRI. EOS shows bones, joints and alignment in a standing position. For soft tissue, discs or nerves, MRI is usually the better tool. If your child's concern is about soft tissue, we will tell you honestly during the video consultation.
Before your child starts treatment, or changes the treatment they 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.
Urgent symptoms. If your child has sudden severe back pain, numbness, weakness in the legs, or any loss of bladder or bowel control, please get urgent medical help. Contact your doctor or go to your nearest emergency department straight away, rather than booking a scan.
Thinking of bringing your child to London for a private, low dose, standing scan? Start with a free video call from home to find out whether EOS is right for your child.
Book a free video consultationFrequently asked questions about paediatric imaging in London
Not for a private scan at ScanAlign. You can refer yourself by booking a free video consultation. If your child is already under the care of a doctor or specialist, a referral from them may still be useful so their care stays joined up.
EOS uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This makes it especially suitable for children and for conditions that need repeated scans over time.
Yes. A parent or guardian is welcome to stay in the room for the whole scan. Suitable shielding is provided.
We can scan children and teenagers who can stand still on their own for a short time. Very young children who cannot stand without support may not be suitable. We check this during the free video consultation.
The appointment is short. The scan itself takes only seconds. The whole visit, including getting into position and any questions, is kept brief to suit younger patients.
No. The EOS system is open, not closed in. Your child simply stands upright between two panels. There is no tunnel, no loud noise and no need to lie down.
Yes. EOS is widely used to assess scoliosis because it shows the full spine while it carries weight. This gives a true picture of the curve under gravity, which a lying-down scan may make look smaller.
For patients travelling from abroad, the price is confirmed during the free video consultation. You can book a paediatric scan by starting with that call.
ScanAlign is at 19 Harley Street, in central London. The nearest Underground stations are Oxford Circus, Regent's Park and Great Portland Street. Learn more about ScanAlign, low dose standing imaging in Harley Street.
Yes, if you wish. A specialist radiologist writes the alignment report, and it can be shared directly with the professional treating your child, whether that is a specialist doctor, physiotherapist or family doctor.
Ready to explore paediatric imaging for your child?
Start with a free video consultation from home. No referral needed, no obligation. We will help you decide whether an EOS scan is the right next step.
Book a free video consultationWritten by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
Sources
- The Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for the communication of radiological reports and fail-safe alert notification. RCR, 2016.
- NHS England. Ionising radiation: dose comparisons. Public Health England / UK Health Security Agency guidance.
- Deschênes S, 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.
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.