BMI Healthcare: Osteoporosis diagnosis and bone scans in the UK

BMI Healthcare provides an extensive range of diagnostic imaging services, including bone scans for osteoporosis diagnosis in over 40 of its private hospitals in the UK. 

Osteoporosis occurs when our bones become weak because they are less dense. This often happens as we get older, and can result in broken bones, usually in the wrist, hip or spine. One in two women, and one in five men in the UK over the age of 50 will break a bone, usually due to osteoporosis.

BMI Healthcare is the acute private hospital division of General Healthcare Group. It is the largest independent provider of private health care in the UK, committed to providing a consistent, high quality service to local communities.

Why choose BMI Healthcare for osteoporosis diagnosis?

BMI Healthcare has built up a reputation for providing excellent medical and surgical facilities, supported by state-of-the-art equipment and a high standard of nursing care, within pleasant and comfortable surroundings. BMI Healthcare deals with over 250,000 inpatient and 1,000,000 outpatient visits each year, and nearly half the procedures undertaken being of a major or complex nature. In patient satisfaction surveys, 98.5% of patients said they would recommend BMI. Read more about BMI Healthcare hospitals.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis does not usually have any symptoms. In most cases the first sign of the disease is a fracture or broken bone after a minor bump or fall, or even after a strain such as picking up something heavy. Osteoporosis can result in tiny fractures in the spine, which can lead to a reduction in height over time, curvature of the spine or ongoing back pain.

Causes of osteoporosis

Healthy bone is made up of a thick outer shell and a strong inner honeycomb mesh of bone tissue. This tissue is continuously broken down and replaced with new cells to keep our bones healthy. As we get older we lose more bone tissue lost than we create, so our bones become weaker. Reduced levels of oestrogen accelerate the break down of bone tissue. That is why more women than men suffer the disease, especially following the menopause.

You have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis if you:

• Have already suffered a break or fracture resulting from a minor bump, strain or fall
• Are over 50
• Have gone through early menopause (before the age of 45)
• Have had your ovaries removed (before the age of 45)
• Have a history of missed periods
• Are on long-term corticosteroid medication
• Have a family history of osteoporosis or fractures
• Have low levels of calcium and vitamin
• Have digestive disorders that affect nutrient absorption

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

If you are at risk of osteoporosis the only way to check if you have the disease, or are likely to develop it, is to have a scan, which scans your bones. The best screening test is a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan.

The scan is quick, simple and painless and it measures the density of your bones, most often in the wrist, hip or spine. You may be diagnosed as having osteopenia. This result isn’t serious, but it means your bone density is lower than normal and you may be more likely to develop osteoporosis in the future. A DEXA scan can then be used over time to accurately monitor any changes over time in your bone density. Other tests for bone density include ultrasound and CT scanning.

Osteoporosis scanning is available at 41 BMI Healthcare hospitals. Find your nearest hospital which offers osteoporosis scanning.

Bone scan costs

For an indicative cost for osteoporosis scanning please call 0800 656 9606 or you can get a quote for osteoporosis scanning  via the BMI Healthcare website.

You can also finance the cost of your health care using the BMI Card. The BMI Card is a unique credit card that allows you to spread the cost of health care, allowing you or your family to benefit from treatment at your chosen BMI hospital at a time convenient to you. Find out about financing health care with BMI Healthcare.

Contact details

BMI National Enquiry Centre
Unit1, Cameron Court
Cameron Street
Hillington Park
Glasgow
G52 4JX

Tel: 0800 656 9606
Fax:   0141 882 6326
Email: info@bmihealthcare.co.uk

Web site: www.bmihealthcare.co.uk

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