Advanced Screening Centre FAQs

Our specialists answer some of your questions

• What should I do if I'm worried about family health history? icon plus

  The screening specialist will investigate your family history and take into account any concerns you have regarding your genetics. In combination with the comprehensive screening assessment and family history, the specialist will decide upon scans and/or further investigations you may need.
  
  This will be discussed with you throughout your experience at The Advanced Screening Centre as it is important that you manage your health and feel informed to make the best decisions.
  

• Why can't I have a full body scan? icon plus

  At the Advanced Screening Centre we combine a careful assessment of your risk factors with state-of-the-art advanced scanning technology to screen not just for disease, but for abnormalities that may develop into disease.
  
  Your tests will be interpreted by world-renowned experts who are not only specialists in diagnosis and treatment, but who are driving change and innovation in medicine. You can then be offered information, further tests if necessary and appropriate treatment, all designed to reduce not only your risk, but any complications arising from the disease or condition.
  
  Our board is in place to ensure ethical and evidence based practice is carried out at the Advanced Screening Centre. This includes preventing unnecessary exposure to radiation, which can have negative implications. Therefore, we do not recommend any scans for our clients as standard practice, only after careful assessment of your family history, past medical history and your current state of health. We want to make sure that everything necessary is done and nothing is undertaken unnecessarily.
  

• How do I make a screening appointment? icon plus

  You can call to make an appointment on 020 7299 0014 or email advancedscreening@hcahealthcare.co.uk our administrative team will collect the necessary details from you and book an appointment convenient for you.

• Is there a downside to having a comprehensive health screen? icon plus

  Embarking on The Advanced Screening Centre programme is one of the best ways to invest in your health. The aim of our health assessment is to give you the opportunity to understand your own personal risk factors and to help you mitigate them. However, it is important to be aware of the limitations of health screening and understand that not all medical professionals support it.
  
  Screening cannot eliminate your risk altogether, nor can it offer a guarantee of protection. No screening test is 100% reliable. There is a chance that cancer or other diseases may be missed. For example, only 90-95% of breast cancers appear on mammograms. This is known as a ‘false negative’ (missing a significant problem), or a false positive result (identifying a problem which later turns out not to be significant). CT Scans use X-rays and therefore expose you to small amount of radiation. However, their use in medicine is strictly controlled and the risk of any problem resulting from exposure to radiation is minimal.
  

• Virtual colonoscopy Vs conventional colonoscopy icon plus

  CT colonography (also known as “virtual colonoscopy”) uses low-dose CT scans to examine the large intestine for bowel cancer and growths such as polyps, the precursor to cancer. CT colonography does not require sedation and uses fewer laxatives than a colonoscopy.
  
  Therefore it is safer, more convenient and less invasive. In addition, a colonography allows the radiologist to accurately visualise abnormalities within and outside the colon as opposed to a colonoscopy which only investigates the bowel. This enables a clear view of the abdomen, pelvis, appendix and the surrounding organs helping to rule out abdominal aortic aneurysm and other cancers (e.g. kidney cancer and ovarian cancer), as opposed to a colonoscopy, which only investigates the bowel.
  

• What if my screening reveals something wrong? icon plus

  If there is an abnormal result we will discuss this with you and guide you through the various options. It is important to note that not all abnormalities detected need to be treated, this will be evaluated by our team of expert clinicians and discusses with you throughout the process. You will have the option of taking advice from our clinicians or taking your final report and findings to a doctor of your choice for follow up care.

  The Advanced Screening Centre is a part of HCA Healthcare UK, the world’s largest private hospital group. HCA UK provides a network of world-renowned experience and specialist clinics, thus providing clients with the highest standard of care as well as rapid access to leading specialists for further investigation or treatment if required.

• Do I need an Advanced Screening? icon plus

  Traditional screening services such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose tests are good general indicators of basic health, however, they are not able to diagnose major life-threatening cancer or cardiovascular diseases on their own.
  
  The Advanced Screening Centre provides you with a full body medical, it is designed to put you in control of your health. We will help assess your individual risk factors and take time to understand your concerns. You may feel perfectly healthy, you may be concerned about the possibility of inherited disease or be worried about cancer symptoms, but you may simply wonder whether elements of your daily life such as poor diet, lack of fitness and stress levels at work could be leading to health problems in the future.
  
  Whatever the outcome of your screening, you will be equipped with insight, knowledge and expert support and advice to tackle any health issues. Whether you require further investigations, treatment or simply to make positive lifestyle changes for a longer, healthier life we will guide and advise you through the process.
  

• Do I need to prepare for my health screen? icon plus

  Yes, prior to your initial check-up we will send you a health questionnaire, which we ask you to fill out and return to us. This includes questions regarding your lifestyle, past medical history, family history (i.e. any family member with heart disease or breast cancer etc.) and any current concerns. This will be reviewed during your appointment with the screening specialist. All your details will remain secure and confidential and will only be made available to the healthcare professional responsible for your screening at The Advanced Screening Centre.
  
  You need to arrive with a full bladder for a urine test, you will also need to fast 12 hours prior to your appointment and drink only water (unless diabetic, in which case we ask that you ring us to discuss the appropriate protocol for you). This is because some of your screening blood tests require you to be fasting for an accurate reading. A light menu will be offered after your appointment with your screening specialist.
  

• Why is The Harley Street Clinic different? icon plus

  The Advanced Screening Centre provides a personalised screening programme tailor made for you, in the heart of London W1. The screening specialists will work with you to devise a plan, based on your family history, past and current medical history, lifestyle factors and your test results. We will then arrange any necessary tests/investigations relevant to your individual risk profile.
  
  A board of world-renowned experts, who strive to detect diseases such as cancers and cardiovascular disease, early, while they are still treatable, governs the Advanced Screening Centre. Our board of consultants ensures that our customised health screenings are conducted ethically and that each test/investigation is warranted and appropriate for you.
  
  The Advanced Screening Centre utilises state-of-the-art scanning technology, which provides greater accuracy for early detection of potential diseases and significant health factors like bladder tumours, fibroids and ovarian cysts. All tests/scans are reported by highly regarded clinicians who have access to leading specialists for further investigations or treatments if necessary. Early diagnosis can make a real difference to survival and life expectancy.