Nuclear Medicine Service

What is a nuclear medicine scan? 

In nuclear medicine you will be injected with a small amount of a radioactive ‘tracer’ which travels to the specific part of the body requiring examination. Once injected, the patient will often have to go off and wait for a period of time before the scan can be done. This gives the injection time to settle in the body. When brought to the scanner, the patient lies on their back and must stay still for all of the scan. Scans are normally anywhere between 25min-60mins, depending on the area of the body being investigated. Nuclear Medicine tracers have no side effects. The amount of radiation a patient receives in a typical nuclear medicine scan tends to be very low. 

How to get an appointment for a nuclear medicine scan? 

• GP patient: A GP cannot refer a patient for a nuclear medicine scan at Beaumont hospital. Patients require a doctor's referral from within the hospital for a nuclear medicine scan. 
• Outpatient: If you have attended a consultant appointment in Beaumont and they have requested a nuclear medicine scan for you an appointment letter will be sent in the post to your address. 

Where will my nuclear medicine scan be done? 

Your scan will take place in the Radiology department, lower ground floor of Beaumont Hospital. 

How do I get my results? 

Your results will be sent to the doctor that referred you for the scan. If your GP did not send you for the scan then they will not automatically receive the results. Results are not sent to your home address. 

If a Consultant in the hospital referred you, you will need to phone the secretary to make an appointment to see the team to discuss your results or request a call back from one of the doctors on the team. 

Nuclear Medicine Dept Contact Details

Telephone: 01 797 4440 

Email for general queries: nmreferrals@beaumont.ie