Vascular Scans · Deep Vein Thrombosis

Private DVT Ultrasound Scan in London

A swollen, painful or hot calf shouldn't be a waiting game. Doppler ultrasound of the deep veins — the definitive first-line DVT test — with the answer explained at your scan, and a same-day NHS handover if a clot is found. £179, self-referral.

Why people book

Why might I need a DVT scan?

The people we see are a real mix: the classic swollen calf after a long-haul flight, post-operative patients whose leg has changed during recovery, people on long periods of immobility or with clotting risk factors — and, just as often, highly anxious individuals who have Googled their symptoms and need the question answered properly rather than left to spiral. All are legitimate reasons to scan: a deep vein thrombosis is common, treatable, and dangerous mainly when ignored. Our guides to calf swelling and leg pain after flying cover the symptom side in depth.

The examination

What does a DVT ultrasound involve?

A Doppler examination of the deep veins from groin to calf: each vein segment is visualised, gently compressed — a healthy vein squashes flat; a clotted one resists — and its flow assessed with colour and spectral Doppler. Both compression and flow tell the story, and where useful the other leg is compared. The examination takes around 30 minutes, needs no preparation, and you watch the screen throughout with everything explained as we go.

From our practice

What happens if we find a clot — the same day

If a deep vein thrombosis is confirmed, the protocol is immediate: we write a fast-tracked, urgent clinical report and arrange a same-day transfer to your local NHS Ambulatory Care unit or A&E to commence anticoagulants. You leave with the report in hand, the pathway already moving, and no ambiguity about what happens next. A positive DVT scan is never an email that waits until tomorrow — it is a conversation, a phone call, and a plan, before you leave the building.

Afterwards

Understanding your results and next steps

Clear veins: genuine reassurance, documented — and if symptoms persist, your report notes the likelier culprits (a Baker's cyst, a muscle tear, superficial phlebitis) and the sensible next step, because ruling out the dangerous thing is only half the job. Superficial clot (phlebitis): explained honestly — usually less dangerous but sometimes needing treatment and follow-up, stated clearly for your GP. Deep vein thrombosis: the same-day pathway above. Every outcome ends with you knowing exactly where you stand — the principle behind all our follow-up care.

Call 999 now — do not book a scan — if

You have sudden breathlessness, chest pain, coughing blood, or feel faint alongside a swollen leg. These can signal a pulmonary embolism — a clot that has travelled to the lungs — and that is a 999 emergency, not an ultrasound appointment.

FAQs

DVT scans — your questions answered

How much does a private DVT scan cost?
£179 — the full deep-vein Doppler examination, findings explained at the scan, urgent same-day handover if needed, and a written report usually within two hours.
How quickly can I be seen?
DVT queries are prioritised — call us and we will find the earliest slot, usually within a day or two. If your symptoms include breathlessness or chest pain, that changes everything: 999, not us.
Can a DVT be missed?
Ultrasound is excellent for the thigh and behind-knee veins and very good in the calf, where small clots can occasionally hide. If your scan is clear but symptoms and risk remain high, your report will say so honestly and recommend the right follow-up — sometimes a repeat scan in a week.
I'm on a blood thinner already — is the scan still useful?
Often, yes — to confirm the diagnosis, map the clot's extent, or provide a baseline for monitoring. Bring your medication details and any prior imaging.
Do I need a referral?
No — self-referral, and if a clot is found the NHS handover is arranged for you the same day.
Where

Where can you get a DVT scan in London? IUS London — 5a Lucerne Mews, Kensington W8 4ED, two minutes from Notting Hill Gate. Directions and parking · 0203 051 6506.

Written and clinically reviewed by the HCPC-registered sonographers who perform this scan at IUS London — a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic (Provider ID 1-2775844974). Your own findings are explained to you at the scan and set out in your report.

Author: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415.

Medically reviewed by: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415 — 24 July 2026. Last reviewed: 24 July 2026.

Stop wondering about your leg

The definitive DVT test — answered at the scan, actioned the same day if needed.

£179DVT examination