You take a written scan report to a new appointment, and the clinician asks whether the original images are available. The report summarises an interpretation; it is not the same file as the images on which that interpretation was based.
For example, Royal Devon’s patient request form distinguishes health records and radiology images. This is an example of one provider’s process. Ask the organisation that holds your records how requests and transfers work in your location.
Find out what the next clinician needs
Before requesting everything, ask the receiving service which examination, date and body area are relevant. Confirm whether it needs the report, the images or both. A clear description reduces the chance of obtaining an unrelated study with a similar name.
Ask whether the providers can transfer the material directly through an approved system. If you receive files or access instructions, check the format the new clinic can use. A screenshot on your phone may not contain the complete study or the information required for clinical review.
Allow time and protect access
Use the provider’s verified records or radiology contact. Follow its identity and authorisation requirements, especially when requesting information for someone else. Do not send sensitive records to an address copied from an unverified message.
Check whether a download link expires and how the receiving clinic should access it. Keep any password or access code private. Avoid uploading the images to public forums or an unfamiliar analysis service to obtain an informal interpretation.
Leave interpretation to the care team
Having the files does not make them self-explanatory. Ask the clinician to explain what they mean in the context of your symptoms and history. If the records are delayed, contact the clinic about the appointment plan rather than assuming care must be postponed.
The useful preparation is an accurate request and a secure transfer, not an attempt to diagnose yourself from the pictures.