So today I had xrays taken at the cost of 116 euros and the hospital concerned does not produce film anymore due to it not being able to be recycled. Now I know that you can produce reasonable/good digital xrays (?) onto paper with a really good printer but the ones that were handed to me looked like you were looking through a fog at a collection of pea soup. How can a doctor or consultant read those - how did the radiographer come to that. Could someone please elucidate for me as I am concerned how treatment will be prescribed from this. I mean no offence but this is my spine and I need to know how to progress and have my doubts.
Hiya, Do you mean this cost you 116âŹ? In other words no âmutuelleâ? I know this is a separate issue but one that probably needs to be addressed! X
Will the doctor or consultant have to look at the paper printouts or a copy of the digital image?
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When I have had x rays at our small local hospital itâs always been with film. However, a print is made of these along with a typed observation by a doctor, these are then handed to you for your dossier medicale. Also a copy is generally transmitted to your mĂ©decine gĂ©nĂ©ral.
No doubt the originals are kept on file by the hospital concerned.
When my mother had an AVC she was given a scan, I was handed a copy of her disc. The original disc was then transmitted to a hospital specialising in neuroligy for their assesment.
Without being too personal Patricia why did you need X rays, I understand it may be something to do with your spine but do you know what exactly ?
Iâd expect these to be given to you digitally (i.e on CD) - even then they might not be âdiagnostic qualityâ
There is no way a reputable radiologist would make anything other than the most general observation from a print out on paper.
Hi Patricia
Presumably your Doctor or Specialist gave you a prescription for the x-rays, so you could get them done???
After, when you were given the prints⊠did someone discuss the findings with you?
In all my experience⊠this has been the case⊠and either CD or film copies given.
However, it is more than likely that the x-rays were zapped directly to whoever asked for them ie your Doc or ConsultantâŠ
Thank you for your concern. The hospital takes the money and it is then returned by Assuarnce Maladie - up to 68%. I pay the rest - it is cheaper than a taking on a mutuelle.
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No the doctor will look at the paper print xrays. There was a sheet of paper typed with the description of the perceived problems. No CD or film copies as the hospital has withdrawn from that service due to a recycling issue.
Not fit for purpose, Iâm afraid.
It was, I am sure a general observation from the doctor in the radiology department.As our hospital now gives you a code which you can input onto your computer to receive the same if the doctor is not available.
My word⊠very odd⊠my Specialist always takes a good look at my x-rays etc⊠to make sure the Radiologist has âgot it rightâ⊠
You may very well be correct for our hospital as well. Thank you. Yes I do know what it was to do with thank you.
Out of interest - and you donât have to say if you prefer not to - what was the xray and what was the diagnostic question?
I will question it with my doctor when he has seen them as the surgery was stacked tonight so the xrays were left with the secretary. He will ring tomorrow.
good luck⊠hope it works out ok
While there are times that I would be happy with a specialistâs interpretation of an x-ray image; orthopaedic surgeons tend to be pretty good and working out what is going on with the bones, for example, the specialist has spent his lifetime learning his particular field and learnt to interpret a fairly narrow range of x-ray imaging as a side effect of this and the radiologist has spent his life training to interpret x-ray pictures.
Who do you think is generally more reliable? 
I have an old injury from 8 years ago and had experienced problems which looked like heart problems but were not and my doctor agreed that it would be a good idea to have an xray of that part of my spine and lower down. It revealed what I expected to hear but I just do not know how that can be from the prints I saw but I now understand that the radiography department may well have kept the originals and therefore could see the break clearly. It was a vertical break caused by impact of me deciding to slip on the 4th stair from the bottom and land on my backside with a severe jolt. When I look at how the spine is connected to the organs in the body I can see why I have the problems I do. Thanks to all for their kind replies.
I will let you know thank you.
Ha ha Paul⊠my Specialist/Doctor really is the beesâ knees ⊠and I thank my lucky stars we found him when we did⊠on more than one occasion he has found something that others had missed⊠
I think they are both specialists in their own fields but when you are used to seeing the xrays yourself it does make you somewhat âleft out of the loopâ and a little insecure - I hate leaving it to others to tell me I guess and I would have liked to have seen what was going on with my spine.