How much does a CT abdomen and pelvis scan cost privately in the UK? (2026)

A private CT of the abdomen and pelvis images the bowel, liver, kidneys, bladder and pelvic organs, and is used for unexplained abdominal pain, suspected diverticulitis, kidney or bowel problems or cancer staging.

We looked at the self-pay price lists several hospital groups make public. For CT abdomen and pelvis scan, the figures ran from £551 to £980, and the table gives each one with the hospital and the exact item named in its list.

A guide price can move after assessment, for example if your consultant recommends a different variant. Always ask for the final figure in writing before agreeing.

You may be asked to fast for a few hours and to drink an oral contrast solution over an hour or so before the scan. A cannula is placed in your arm for intravenous contrast, which can give a warm sensation, and the scan itself takes only a short time on the table.

Because the preparation and the contrast are what distinguish a good diagnostic scan from a basic one, check that the quote covers both. If you have kidney disease, diabetes treated with metformin or a contrast allergy, tell the centre in advance, as a blood test or a different plan may be needed.

Several things move the cost of CT abdomen and pelvis scan up or down. These are the ones worth asking about first.

• Area count: abdomen and pelvis are often two areas, and Edinburgh lists two-area contrast CT well above a one-area scan.

• Contrast: most scans use intravenous contrast, and some also use oral contrast, adding preparation time.

• Kidney function: patients with kidney disease may need a blood test first, affecting cost and timing.

• Hospital price: the one-part CT prices we retrieved vary by hospital by several hundred pounds.

• Specialist read: abdominal radiologists often report these scans.

Quotes rarely list everything, so it helps to know what to look for. The table sets out typical inclusions and extras for this procedure.

Insurers normally cover abdominal CT on referral. Check whether both areas, abdomen and pelvis, are authorised in a single claim.

If you are using insurance, get pre-authorisation in writing before treatment and ask which fees your policy limits could leave uncovered. If you are paying yourself, some hospital groups offer medical finance subject to status; check the rate, term and total repayable before agreeing.

The NHS uses CT of the abdomen and pelvis in emergencies and in suspected cancer pathways; elective requests are triaged by clinicians.

In England the NHS aims to start non-urgent consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral, and patients can ask to be offered alternative providers if that is likely to be exceeded. Actual waits vary by trust and specialty.

No recovery is needed apart from drinking fluids after contrast. Costs that follow depend on the finding.

Few people need more than the planned care, but the cost position if they do is worth settling before treatment.

• Contrast reactions are uncommon but possible, and any allergy history should be disclosed beforehand.

• Severe abdominal pain with fever, vomiting or a rigid abdomen needs urgent care, not a booked scan.

When you have two or three estimates, these questions help you see which is genuinely the better value.

• Are the abdomen and pelvis both covered in the quoted price?

• Is intravenous and oral contrast included?

• Will I need a blood test beforehand, and is that charged?

• Who reports the scan?

• Are professional fees and hospital charges shown as separate lines, and is the total a firm figure or an estimate?