The short answer 

A radiology second opinion is a fresh read of a scan you have already had. A consultant radiologist reviews the original images, not only the report, and writes their own independent report. There is no new scan and no examination. Your treating doctor still decides your care. 

Key facts 

• Reads: your original scan images, the first report and any earlier related scans 

• Scans covered: MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray and PET-CT 

• Reader: a consultant radiologist who specialises in the body area 

• You receive: a written report with findings, a plain-English explanation and suggested next steps 

• Not included: a new scan, a physical examination, a diagnosis or treatment advice 

• GP referral: not needed for our service 

• Turnaround: report signed within 48 hours of your images passing our checks 

What is a radiology second opinion? 

When you have a scan, a radiologist reads the images and writes a report. That report goes to the doctor who asked for the scan. A radiology second opinion is a second radiologist reading those same images and writing a separate report. 

It is a second read of the same pictures. Nothing about your body is tested again. 

How it differs from a repeat scan and a clinical second opinion 

Three different things are often called a second opinion. Only the first column is a radiology second opinion. 

	Radiology second opinion	Repeat scan	Clinical second opinion
What happens	A second radiologist reads your existing images	The scan is done again and a new set of images is taken	A different doctor assesses you and your records
Who does it	A consultant radiologist	A radiographer takes the images and a radiologist reports them	A doctor in the relevant specialty
Do you attend in person?	No	Yes	Usually
New radiation?	No	Repeat CT and X-ray scans use radiation	No
The question it answers	What do these images show?	What do the images show now?	What should be done about my condition?
Offered by Second Opinion Radiology	Yes	No	No

The differences matter because people often ask for the wrong one. If your question is “can someone read my scan again?”, you want a re-read. If your question is “what treatment should I have?”, you need a doctor who can examine you and see your full record. 

A repeat CT scan uses X-rays, so it adds radiation. The NHS page on CT scans explains how the scan works. 

Why can two radiologists read the same scan differently? 

A scan is a set of images, and reading it involves judgement. Two careful readers can describe the same image in different ways. A few things drive that: 

• Experience in one body area. A subspecialist reads the same type of scan every day, so they see many normal variations and many rare findings. 

• Borderline findings. Some features sit between normal and abnormal. Words such as “likely”, “possible” or “cannot be excluded” often mark a judgement call. 

• What the reader is told. Your symptoms and history shape what a radiologist looks for and how they word the result. 

• Earlier scans. Comparing with a previous scan can change how a finding is described. 

• Image quality. Missing sequences or movement on the scan can limit what any reader can say. 

Differences between radiologists are not unusual. A different report does not mean the first radiologist was careless, and a second read can also confirm the first. Either result is useful to you and to your doctor. 

What does a second read give you? 

You receive a written, signed report. Ours follows the layout hospital reports use, with a plain-English section added for you. You can see the full layout in our sample report. 

1. Header. The reporting radiologist, the study, any comparison scans and the reason the scan was done. 

2. Findings. Each structure in the scan, described in turn. 

3. Conclusion. The key findings in short points. 

4. Recommendations. Suggested next steps, such as asking a particular specialist to review your case. 

5. What this means for you. The findings in everyday language, including what the scan did not show. 

The report is written for two readers. The clinical sections are for your GP or hospital consultant. The plain-English section is for you. 

Who reads your scan? 

A radiologist is a doctor who specialises in reading medical images. A consultant is a senior, fully trained specialist. A subspecialist consultant reads one area of the body, such as: 

• neuroradiology (brain, spine and nerves) 

• musculoskeletal radiology (bones and joints) 

• cardiothoracic radiology (heart and chest) 

• gastrointestinal and abdominal radiology 

• gynaecological radiology 

At Second Opinion Radiology you tell us the scan type and body area, and we confirm both from your images. We then assign your case to the matching subspecialist. We tell you their name, subspecialty and hospital before any reporting begins, and you are not asked to choose. You can meet the team on our specialists page. 

When do people ask for a second read? 

People ask for one for different reasons. Common ones are: 

• The report uses wording you do not understand and you want it explained in plain English. 

• The report uses cautious phrases, such as “possible” or “cannot be excluded”, and you want a specialist to read the images again. 

• You are facing a significant decision and want a subspecialist to check the images before you act. 

• You have had scans at different hospitals or at different times, and you want them compared together. 

• You still have symptoms and your report says nothing was found. Speak to your doctor first. A second read can be one part of that conversation. 

Not sure whether a second read would help in your case? Our free Ask first check tells you, usually within one working day, whether a second read is worthwhile. 

What a second read cannot do 

A second read is a specific, limited service. It cannot: 

• diagnose, treat or manage your condition 

• examine you or see your full medical record 

• go beyond the images and information you send 

• replace the report from the hospital that did your scan, or your treating doctor’s advice 

• improve images that are incomplete or poor quality. If something is missing, we tell you before the review starts. 

• respond to an emergency. If you are unwell now, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111. 

Your treating doctor keeps full responsibility for your diagnosis and care. Share the report with them and discuss it before you make any decision about treatment. Our medical disclaimer sets out the same limits. 

What if the second report is different? 

A different report is a reason to talk to your doctor. It is not a reason to act on your own. 

1. Keep your treatment and appointments as they are. Do not stop or change treatment on the strength of one report. 

2. Share both reports with your GP or hospital consultant. Give them the original report and the second one together. 

3. Ask which differences matter for your care. Hospital teams can discuss scans at multidisciplinary team meetings, where radiologists and specialists review images together. Your doctor can ask for that if it is needed. 

4. Keep both reports with your records. Future scans may be compared against both. 

If the second report agrees with the first, that is also a useful result. It means a specialist has checked the images and reached the same view. 

Do you need a referral, and what about the NHS? 

You do not need a GP referral to use Second Opinion Radiology. You can upload your own images and order directly. You can then share the report with your GP or any other doctor. 

A clinical second opinion on the NHS works differently. It is a second consultation, not a second read of your images. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust says you do not have a legal right to one, but that the General Medical Council expects all doctors to respect your right to ask for one. For a second opinion from a different consultant you usually need your GP to refer you again. The Royal Free London leaflet on second opinions adds that a second opinion does not mean the new consultant automatically takes over your care. 

A second read of your images does not replace your NHS report. The NHS team that treats you keeps the original report and keeps responsibility for your treatment. 

How do you get a copy of your scan images? 

You can ask for a copy of your own health records under the UK GDPR right of access. The Information Commissioner’s Office says organisations usually have one month to respond to a request. NHS trusts normally handle it as a subject access request, and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals explains the process. Its page says the trust must respond within 30 days, may take up to two extra months for complex requests, and must provide the copy free of charge unless a request is manifestly unfounded or excessive. Other trusts publish their own forms and routes, and some share images through an online portal. 

When you ask, say that you want the images themselves, not only the written report. Ask for them in DICOM format. DICOM is the format hospitals use to store scan images, usually as a folder of files ending in .dcm. 

For a private or overseas scan, ask the clinic for a download link and send us that. You can start your case with us before the images arrive. We show you how to request them, and the request has to come from you. 

How does it work with Second Opinion Radiology? 

1. Tell us about your case. You give the scan type and body area, then your symptoms, relevant history and what you want reviewed. We use this to assign the right subspecialist. 

2. Upload your scans. Send the images, ideally as a DICOM folder or ZIP file, with your original report and any earlier related scans. 

3. Get your expert report. Your report is in your patient dashboard. You can download it and share it with your GP or treating clinician. 

Your case passes four checkpoints. A radiographer checks within one hour that your study is complete and readable, and tells you first if anything is missing. Your case is then routed to a subspecialist, reviewed, and signed. We email to say your report is ready. We never put what it says in the email. 

We sign the report within 48 hours. The 48 hours start once your images have passed our checks. 

For serious or urgent findings, we call you before the report is released and offer a free video call with the reporting radiologist. 

Our standard report is £250, or £300 with comparison studies. A written-questions add-on and a video-call add-on are available. There is no consultation fee and no subscription. Current prices are on our pricing page. 

What should you have ready? 

• Your scan images, as a DICOM folder or ZIP file if you can 

• The original report from the hospital or clinic 

• Any earlier scans of the same area 

• A short note of your symptoms and relevant history 

• The question you most want answered 

The full process is on our how it works page. 

Frequently asked questions 

Is a radiology second opinion the same as a repeat scan? 

No. A second opinion is a second read of the images you already have. A repeat scan takes new images. A re-read involves no new radiation and no appointment. 

Can I use a scan done on the NHS? 

Yes. The images are yours under your right of access. Ask the hospital’s radiology department or medical records team for the images, not only the report. 

Do I need to tell my GP or hospital team? 

You do not need their permission, but it helps to tell them. Share the report with your GP or consultant so they can compare it with the original and place it alongside your other results. 

Who can see my images? 

Only the reporting radiologist and our clinical governance lead. Images are encrypted and held on UK servers. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, and we do not share studies with insurers, employers or other third parties. You can ask us to delete your data at any time. 

What if I am worried about my result right now? 

Contact the team that arranged your scan or your GP. If you feel unwell now, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111. Second Opinion Radiology is not an emergency service. 

Can you review a scan from outside the UK? 

Yes. We accept images from any country and report in English. 

Have a scan report you would like read again? 

Start with the free Ask first check. Tell us about your scan and we reply, usually within one working day, on whether a second read is worthwhile. If you are ready, see how it works or upload your scans. 

Second Opinion Radiology is a trading name of SecondRead Ltd, registered in England and Wales (company number 17360526). This article is general information. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace the advice of your treating doctor.