DEXA scans in LondonPublished prices, who asks for a referral, and the government’s position on DEXA for sport and wellness.

The government’s position

What GOV.UK says

The government’s position, published on GOV.UK on 30th March 2026: “While DEXA is a permitted practice for medical purposes, the non-medical use of DEXA for sports and wellness purposes is not justified under The Justification of Practices Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004 (JoPIIRR). As a result, providing DEXA for non‑medical sports and wellness purposes is prohibited and any providers doing so are operating outside the JoPIIRR framework.”

A public consultation on whether to allow DEXA for non medical purposes ran from 30th March to 1st June 2026. The consultation page now reads “This consultation has concluded”, and a summary of responses was added on 7th October 2026. It says: “The government will now consider the consultation responses, along with evidence gathered through targeted engagement. They will then reach a final policy decision on whether non-medical DEXA for lifestyle, wellness and sporting performance purposes should be made a justified practice and, if so, the safeguards that should apply.” And: “Further information on next steps will be communicated in due course.” No decision had been published when this page was checked.

Sources 1 and 2

Who asks for a referral

In the providers’ own words

3 of the 10 London providers in this guide say a referral is needed. Welbeck: “To book a DEXA scan, you must be referred by either your GP or an orthopaedic specialist following a consultation with them. Self-referrals are not accepted for this test.” Cromwell Hospital: “Yes, we will require a referral from your GP, consultant, or another clinician to determine the most appropriate test or scan for your needs.” My Vital Metrics: “All DEXA scans, for body composition or bone density, require a medical referral.” and “Here at My Vital Metrics, we include the price of the referral in your scan cost.”

4 take bookings without a GP referral, each with a check of its own. BodyScan: “You do not need a doctor’s referral to book a scan with us (unless you currently have or are recovering from an eating disorder).” One5 Health: “Self-refer without GP consultation for a high-quality, affordable, and convenient DEXA Scan.” and “A One5 Health doctor will review your answers within 1 working day.” King Edward VII’s Hospital: “At King Edward VII’s Hospital, you can self-refer for a private DEXA scan, giving you fast access without delays.” Scan.com says its clinicians contact you after booking for the information they need.

The other 3, The London Clinic, Nuffield Health Parkside and HCA Healthcare UK, write about a referring clinician without saying whether one is required. On the pages read, none of the 10 providers mentions the government’s position.

Bone density and body composition

The London Clinic, King Edward VII’s Hospital, Nuffield Health Parkside, HCA Healthcare UK, Cromwell Hospital and Welbeck sell a bone density scan, and their pages tie it to the risk of osteoporosis. King Edward VII’s Hospital: “A DEXA scan, also called a bone density scan, is a quick and painless way to check the strength of your bones if you’re worried about osteoporosis or fracture risk.” Cromwell Hospital: “Your doctor may recommend a bone density scan if you have fractured a bone after only a minor fall or bump, or you are in a high-risk group for osteoporosis.”

BodyScan, My Vital Metrics, Scan.com and One5 Health sell body composition, the scan that measures fat and muscle. BodyScan: “In your 40 minute appointment you will get an in-depth, personalised face-to-face consultation with a clear breakdown of your Fat Mass Index (FMI), Lean Mass Index (LMI) and Appendicular Lean Mass Index (ALMI).” One5 Health sells both in one scan: “Check osteoporosis risk or track body-composition changes.” My Vital Metrics calls its scan “The gold standard in body composition analysis”.

Registration

All 10 are on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) register. 9 have “Diagnostic and screening procedures” among their registered activities at one site or more. Scan.com is a booking service that places scans at partner centres, and its own registration is for “Treatment of disease, disorder or injury”.

Sources 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20