Our radiology service offers a wide range of scans and tests. These help us to diagnose and treat diseases in the body. They also help to identify bone and soft tissue issues.
We have a specialist team of radiographers and radiologists. They offer a range of imaging techniques. These include x-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and computed tomography (CT) scans.
We also offer interventional radiology. This is a non-invasive technique to guide treatments. It uses real-time imaging during scanning.
Our service carries out 17,000 to 20,000 diagnostic tests each month. Tests take place across our sites in Northumberland and North Tyneside. For details of the services provided at each hospital, see 'Service locations' below.
We have made a major investment in our scanning facilities. This means we can see more patients and offer them the latest scans and tests. Patients will get results quicker and see reduced waiting times.
Our mission
Here at Northumbria, we want to provide the best experience for our patients. We want this to be as comfortable and reassuring as possible.
We want you to feel at ease in radiology at Northumbria. Our wonderful team will provide as much information as you need. They will help you fully understand everything that will happen.
We want to make your experience one of the best in the country. Our wonderful staff will do this by providing great care.
We provide tests and scans for patients undergoing many types of procedures. These include:
- X-ray (GP patients, outpatients, inpatients, and minor injuries)
- CT
- Ultrasound
- Mammography
- Fluoroscopy
- DEXA (bone densitometry)
People are referred into our service. This might be by a GP, physio or consultant.
At Northumbria, we have radiology services on 8 sites. The opening times and services available at each site are:
Wansbeck General Hospital
Opening times: 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
We provide imaging for patients coming from the urgent treatment centre, GPs, outpatients, and inpatients.
These include:
- X-ray (GP patients, outpatients, inpatients, and minor injuries),
- CT scans
- Ultrasound
- DEXA scanning
- Mammography
North Tyneside General Hospital
Opening times: 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week.
We provide imaging for patients coming from the urgent treatment centre, GPs, outpatients, and inpatients.
These include:
- X-ray (GP patients, outpatients, inpatients, and minor injuries)
- CT scans
- Ultrasound
- Fluoroscopy
- DEXA scanning
- Mammography
Hexham General Hospital
Opening times: 8am to 10pm, Monday to Friday. 10am to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday.
We provide imaging for patients coming from the minor injuries department, GPs, outpatients, and inpatients.
These include:
- X-ray (GP patients, outpatients, inpatients, and minor injuries)
- CT scans
- Ultrasound
- Fluoroscopy
- Mammography
Alnwick Infirmary
Opening times: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Limited hours on a weekend.
We provide imaging for patients coming from the minor injuries department.
These include:
- X-ray (GP patients, outpatients, and minor injuries)
- Ultrasound
Berwick Infirmary
Opening times: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Limited hours on a weekend.
We provide imaging for patients coming from the minor injuries department.
These include:
- X-ray (GP patients, outpatients, and minor injuries)
- Ultrasound
Morpeth NHS Centre
Opening times: 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Thursday. 9am to 5pm, 1st and 3rd Friday of each month.
We provide X-rays for GP patients and outpatient clinics.
Blyth Community Hospital
Opening times: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
We provide x-rays for GP patients, outpatients, and inpatients.
This is a very busy department. It has several diagnostic imaging rooms running at the same time. This is what you can expect to happen when you come for your x-ray or scan.
Different procedures might need different preparation. This will be explained to you.
When you attend for your appointment, reception staff will greet you and check your details are correct. You will be asked to wait in the waiting room until the radiographer or sonographer is ready for you.
You will be called from the waiting room into the x-ray or scan room. You may need to get changed, but this depends on what x-ray or scan you need.
Once your x-ray or scan is complete, you will be able to leave the department and go home.
Our team aims to report GP requests within 28 days.
You can now book your x-ray online.
Simply follow this link and choose a time and date that suits you. We will send you a text message confirming your appointment once booked.
This service is available to all patients in radiology who have had an x-ray requested by a referring clinician. We have partnered with our digital solutions provider, DrDoctor, to provide this service.
What you’ll need
To book your appointment online, you will need to login with your name, date of birth and postcode.
How to book an appointment
- Click NHC- Radiology Quick-Book link when you want to book an x-ray. Or scan the QR code to access.
- Read the hospital information, which may have specific details.
- Select a hospital, date and time that suits you.
- Enter your details as prompted (name, date of birth, postcode, mobile number)
- Choose how you would prefer to receive appointment communications, by text or by email.
- Select ‘Book appointment’
- Review your booked appointment. You can also add it to your calendar.
- We’ll send you a confirmation message by text message or email depending on the preference you chose.
- If you have any issues booking or need to cancel your appointment, please contact us on 0191 293 2541.
For more information on our Patient Portal, click here.
We treat our patients as individuals. We acknowledge everybody’s rights and needs. By doing this, we create a friendly and safe environment. We pride ourselves on our impeccable infection control standards.
We believe good teamwork and communication will provide the best care for our patients. Our team want to provide fantastic health education to our patients.
We will always aim to provide the best possible care to our patients.
As a service, we believe we need to continue our development. We look at ways of improving our services to benefit patients. We do this through education and professional development. We are looking at the ways we can be more sustainable.
The relationship between our staff and patients should be of mutual respect. We will not tolerate any verbal or physical abuse.
We know there are always ways to improve, so we encourage patients to leave feedback. You are welcome to raise concerns you may have.
Radiology department phone number -
Our team
Dr Mark Twemlow / Dr Margaret Wilkinson – clinical leads
Janice Ross – general manager
Deborah Henderson – trust lead radiographer
Danielle Graham – site lead, North Tyneside / Blyth
Olivia Rowley - site lead, Hexham
Alexandra Freeman - site lead, Wansbeck / community sites (Alnwick, Berwick, Morpeth)
Alex May - site lead, Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital
Joanne Sullivan – fluoroscopy lead
Katie Quiqley – mammography lead
Greg Telfer – CT lead
Shaun Freeman - DXA lead (bone density scans)
Ashleigh Almond - cath lab (catheterisation laboratory) lead
Beth Dutton - MRI lead
Chris Murray - ultrasound lead
Lisa Maguire – junior OSM (operational service manager)
Important information
X-rays and other scans use radiation. This means there are potential risks to anyone having a scan.
These scans use a beam of electromagnetic radiation to see inside your body. It can cause a process called ionisation. Ionising radiation can cause cell damage. After many years or decades, it may turn cancerous.
You can read full details about radiation and the risks in this document.
Your healthcare team always check that the benefit of having a scan is greater than the risk.
Please ask us if you have any questions.
If there is any chance you are pregnant, please tell us before your scan.
An x-ray or CT scan means you are exposed to radiation. It is our duty to make sure we protect people from exposure if not needed.
For us to safely do your test, we must know that there is no chance you are pregnant.
We may not be able to go ahead if we can’t confirm your pregnancy status. We may have to delay your test.
Please speak to our staff if you need advice.