FAQ

Below are a selection of our most frequently asked questions.
If you have additional questions or would like some further information, please contact us.

Billing

The cost of the ultrasound and consultation will be discussed at the time of making an appointment. We request that accounts be settled on the day after the consultation. We have EFTPOS and accept MasterCard, VISA and American Express. We are a private medical ultrasound service and we do not routinely bulk bill as this would not allow us to provide the best comprehensive service for our patients.

Why has my Doctor referred us to QUFW?

Experience matters. Whilst it may be possible to find a cheaper provider for your ultrasound, not all ultrasounds are the same. The scans at QUFW are performed by experienced sonographers and doctors who have expertise in the management of pregnancy and gynaecology. Your doctor chooses to send you to QUFW because they know that they can rely upon the scan quality and the results. We use the best equipment available, however it is also the skill of the people using the equipment and how they use it, that matters.

Do I need a full bladder?

We do not routinely need you to have an extremely full bladder. We request that you empty your bladder one hour prior to your scan appointment, drink 2 small glasses of water. Please do not empty your bladder before the scan. If you are feeling uncomfortable when you are waiting, please let our staff know so they can advise you accordingly.

How long will the appointment take?

Our scans can range from approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the type of scan, but please allow up to 90 minutes. Occasionally there are unexpected delays. If a problem is detected in a routine ultrasound, it will be discussed with you at the time of your appointment. In this situation, further examination and reassessment may extend over a longer period depending on the complexity of this problem and individual patient needs. This process may lead to delay of the assessment of other women’s appointments.

We apologise for these delays which are unpredictable and we make every effort to avoid significant patient inconvenience. We ask that you demonstrate kindness to our staff if there is an unforeseen delay. We recommend that you ring our rooms in advance to check that we are not significantly delayed so you can plan your day and parking arrangements.

What are our opening times?

Our Brisbane practice is open Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm. It is also open every second Saturday from 8am-12:30pm.

Our Ipswich, Southport and Tugun practices are open between Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm.

Can I bring another person to my appointment?

Your ultrasound is an exciting experience for you and we understand that it is important to share with your family and friends and to have them there as support. As it is still a medical procedure, it is imperative that our sonographers and doctors are allowed to concentrate during the scan whilst taking the necessary images and measurements. Occasionally, our sonographer’s and doctors may need to discuss unfortunate news found during your appointment and so this must be taken into consideration.

At QUFW, we allow two support people to attend your appointment. One of these support people may be a child. Sometimes pregnancy ultrasounds can be a long time for your little one’s attention span, so we request that the other support person is a supervising adult who may be able to attend to your child during the scan if necessary. If you are a surrogate patient, we are happy to discuss this with you when you make your appointment.

Will I find out the sex of my baby?

If you have had a NIPT, the gender of the baby will be available at the time the sonographer or doctor contacts you with your results. Please notify them at the time if you wish to know. If you have not had a NIPT, in most situations we are able to visualise the gender at the morphology scan. Occasionally, the gender may be difficult to visualise due to a range of scanning conditions.

How long does it take for the NIPT result to come back?

Results are normally released between 5-7 business days. We will contact you with the results and your referring Doctor will receive a copy as well.

Why do I need an ultrasound before my NIPT collection?

At QUFW, our sonographers and doctors perform an ultrasound to check your baby’s heartbeat and to date the pregnancy before performing your NIPT collection. During this scan, our expert staff will discuss NIPT with you and are available to answer questions that you may have.

What number of weeks should I have my Nuchal Translucency Scan?

Whilst a Nuchal Translucency scan or Early Anatomy Screening can be done from 12 to 14 weeks, we prefer this scan to be performed between 13 and 13weeks 6 days. It is amazing how one week can make a difference for our experienced sonographers in seeing the fine detail of your baby’s development and complex structures such as their brain, heart and kidneys.

Why do I need my blood pressure taken at my Nuchal Translucency/Early Anatomy scan?

At QUFW, we have incorporated Pre-eclampsia screening as a routine component of the Nuchal Translucency/Early Anatomy scan as recommended by international guidelines. One of our staff will take your blood pressure either before your scan or upon completion of your scan. If there are any concerns with your Pre-eclampsia risk assessment, one of our doctors will discuss your results with you.

When does my Doctor get their report?

We will generate the report at the end of the scan and send this through to your doctor either by electronic secure download or fax within 24 hours. You will also receive the same report via a link to the Tricefy app on your mobile phone.

Do I receive any images of my baby?

At QUFW, we utilise the Tricefy app to send images to your mobile device from the ultrasound system. We use the latest 3D/4D technology clinically as part of our ultrasound protocols. Our sonographers will make every effort to obtain 3D/4D images of your baby to send to your phone during the medical examination, however the quality of the images may be limited due to a variety of factors such as fetal position, placental and/or uterine position and maternal habitus.

Can I record my examination?

At QUFW, we provide images via the Tricefy app. We cannot provide live recording of our staff or the examination for legal reasons. If your loved one is unable to attend, we are able to provide the opportunity during the scan for you to video call your partner or loved one so that they can share in your experience. Please ask your staff member at the time of the examination, if this can be done at an appropriate time during the examination.

BRISBANE

Suite 11E, Level 1
Leichhardt Court
55 Little Edward Street
Spring Hill, QLD 4000

 07 3831 1777
 07 3831 1788
 brisbane@qufw.com.au

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Southport

Level 4,
7 Short St
Southport, QLD 4215

 07 5528 2934
 07 5528 3849
 southport@qufw.com.au

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TUGUN

Suite 6C, Level 6
Fred McKay House
42 Inland Drive
Tugun QLD 4224

 07 5610 4973
 07 5604 1192
 tugun@qufw.com.au

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IPSWICH

Suite 5B,
10 Churchill Street,
Ipswich, QLD 4305

 07 3447 9111
 07 3492 9299
 ipswich@qufw.com.au

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