You get your previous mammogram images to a new facility by asking the facility that took them — usually its medical records or imaging department — to send them on, after you complete a short authorisation form. The images then travel on a disc, through a secure electronic transfer, or directly between the two facilities. The last step is the one people forget: call the new facility and confirm the images actually arrived and can be opened, well before your appointment.
Key Takeaways
- Start with the facility that took the images — its medical records or imaging department handles requests like this every day.
- Expect to confirm your identity and sign an authorisation form; the facility will explain its own process.
- Images can travel on a disc, by secure electronic transfer, or facility to facility — ask which method the new facility prefers.
- Request early: comparison images are most useful when they are sitting in the new facility before your appointment day.
- Confirm arrival and keep a note of who you spoke to, and when, at both ends.
- Comparison with earlier images is a standard part of reading a mammogram — our guide to how breast cancer is found explains where it fits.
Who to Contact First
The images belong to the record held by the facility that performed the mammogram — a hospital imaging department, a breast screening centre, or an imaging clinic. Its medical records department, sometimes called health information management, is the office that releases copies. A phone call is the usual starting point: say that you are having future mammograms elsewhere and need your previous images sent to the new facility, and ask what they need from you to do it.
Comparison matters because a radiologist reads a new mammogram far better with the old ones beside it — our article on why radiologists compare your mammogram with past years explains what that comparison can show. It is a routine part of the process described in our pillar guide to how breast cancer is found and diagnosed. Asking for your images is an ordinary request, and staff handle it constantly — you are not asking for a favour.
If you have images at more than one facility over the years, each facility holds its own set. The newest facility generally wants as much of the earlier history as can be gathered, and the most recent previous study is usually the most important, so start there if your history is long.
What You Will Be Asked For
Facilities must be sure they are releasing the right person’s records to the right place, so expect a few standard requests:
- Proof of identity — typically a photo ID, so the facility can match you to the record.
- Your details as they appear on the record — full name, date of birth, and any previous name the older studies may be filed under.
- A signed authorisation form — the facility’s own release form, naming where the images should go. Some facilities accept it by post, fax, or a patient portal; others ask you to sign in person.
- The destination — the new facility’s name, department, and address or transfer details. Having the new facility’s exact details in front of you before you call speeds everything up.
Ask, while you are arranging it, whether any copying fee applies and how long the facility expects the transfer to take — policies vary from place to place, and the honest answer comes from the facility itself rather than from any general guide. If a form asks for something you do not have or do not understand, say so on the call; staff can usually tell you what else they can accept.
How the Images Travel
| Method | How it works | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Disc by post or collected in person | The facility copies the studies to a disc, which is posted to you or the new facility, or collected | Ask the new facility to confirm the disc arrived and opens correctly on their system |
| Secure electronic transfer | Images are sent through a secure link or shared imaging network between facilities | You may receive a link or code to pass on — keep it safe and note when it expires |
| Facility-to-facility request | The new facility requests the images directly, using your signed authorisation | Often the simplest route — ask the new facility whether they can do it this way |
Older studies may exist on film rather than as digital files. Facilities can usually copy or digitise what they hold, but it is worth mentioning the age of the studies when you call, so nothing about the format comes as a surprise. Whatever the method, the transfer is not finished when the package is sent — it is finished when the new facility confirms it has the images and can view them.
Keep your own simple tracking note as you go: the date you requested the images, the facility and the person you spoke to, the method agreed, and the date you confirmed arrival. If anything goes astray — a disc that never lands, a link that has expired — that note turns a frustrating phone call into a short one, because you can say exactly what was arranged and when. It also gives you a record of your complete imaging history, which is useful every time you change facility in future.
If Things Have Changed
Life moves between mammograms, and records staff are used to that. If you have married, divorced, or changed your name, tell both facilities the name the older studies are filed under. If you have moved across the country, the process is the same — distance just makes the confirmation call more important. If the old facility has closed, merged, or been renamed, records are normally passed to a successor organisation or stored by a records custodian; the new facility, or the old facility’s health system, can usually point you to who holds them now.
If some images genuinely cannot be traced, tell the new facility rather than quietly giving up. Care continues: the team can work with what exists, may take fresh images as a new starting point, and will note what was unavailable. A gap in the history is information too, and it is far better declared than discovered on the day.
What to Do Next
- Write down the new facility’s full name, department, and the address or transfer route they prefer.
- Call the facility that took your most recent previous mammogram and ask for its medical records or imaging department.
- Complete their authorisation form, using the exact name your older studies are filed under.
- Ask how the images will travel, whether any fee applies, and when to expect completion.
- Repeat for any other facility holding studies the new team wants, starting with the most recent.
- Call the new facility before your appointment and confirm the images arrived and can be opened — and keep a note of every call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need my old images if I feel perfectly well?
Yes — comparison is about the pictures, not about symptoms. A radiologist who can see that an area has looked the same for years reads the new study with much more confidence, and an area that has changed stands out sooner. That is why facilities ask for priors as a matter of routine.
Can the new facility request the images for me?
Often, yes. Many facilities will send the request themselves once you have signed their authorisation form. Ask when you book your appointment — it is usually the simplest route, and the booking staff will know the local process.
How long does a transfer take?
It varies with the facility, the method, and how much history is involved, and no general article can promise a timeframe. The safe approach is to start the request as soon as your new appointment is booked, and to confirm arrival before the day rather than on it.
What if my previous mammogram was taken under a different name?
Tell both facilities. Records are filed under the name used at the time, and a previous name is a routine detail for records staff — giving it to them at the start prevents a fruitless search under your current name only.
What happens if my old images cannot be found?
Your appointment still goes ahead. The team reads the new study on its own, may take a fuller set of images as a new baseline, and notes the gap in your record. Let them know in advance if you can, so the appointment is planned with that in mind.
Related Articles
- How Breast Cancer Is Found and Diagnosed: The Complete Guide
- Why Radiologists Compare Your Mammogram With Past Years
- How to Read Your Mammogram Report
- Diagnostic Mammogram vs Screening Mammogram: What Is the Difference?
- Mammograms After a Lumpectomy: Watching the Treated Breast
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. It does not replace professional care. Talk to your doctor or care team about your own situation. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.