Non-Obstetric Ultrasound services (NOUS)

Sussex Medical Chambers is an accredited provider of high-quality diagnostic services. We are commissioned by the ICB and directly by NHS Trusts to provide non-obstetric Ultrasound services. Our ultrasound services are also available via the Increasing Capacity Framework (ICF).

Our NHS Ultrasound services provide the following scans:

General abdominal – includes assessment of the aorta, biliary tract, gallbladder, inferior vena cava, kidneys, liver, pancreas, retroperitoneum and spleen;
Gynaecology – including transabdominal and transvaginal (including assessment of endometrial thickness, post-menopausal bleeding or uncertain findings on pelvic examination);
Renal/bladder/prostate
Scrotal/testicular;
Conditions meeting NG12 guidance for direct access urgent ultrasound that include Pelvic, Testicular, Post Menopausal bleeding scans.

Upper GI

Urgent abdominal USS

Upper abdominal mass consistent with an enlarged gall bladder.
Upper abdominal mass consistent with an enlarged liver.
As an alternative to CT to assess for pancreatic cancer in people aged 60 and over with weight loss and any of the following:
- Diarrhoea
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- New‑onset diabetes.

The following types of scans are beyond the scope of the service:

Ultrasound guided procedures;
Obstetric care;

Scans for:

Breast;
MSK case mix
Soft tissue and superficial masses, lumps and bumps in the neck, axilla or groin including suspected hernia
Lymph nodes groin, axilla and head and neck
Cardiac Imaging;
Chest;
Vascular with the exception of AAA monitoring
Ophthalmology;
Thyroid;
Children under the age of 18;
Non-NHS Patients;
Abusive, violent, or threatening patients without a security escort; and
Patients requiring general anaesthetic

Clinical exclusions

Any patient with suspected cancer who fulfils the NICE NG12 (2015) criteria for a referral to a specialist (as opposed to the criteria for a direct access scan) are excluded and should be referred through the relevant two week wait or suspected cancer referral pathway.

How to Refer:

We can only accept referrals from practices registered in NHS Sussex – area known previously as Coastal West Sussex and Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex.

We can only accept referrals on the Sussex Medical Chambers approved Referral Forms available on your internal practice systems. Please ensure that forms are fully completed to avoid delays in scheduling scans.