What to Expect
Patient care is our highest priority. This includes keeping you informed at every stage of your diagnosis and treatment process.
How do I schedule an appointment?
To schedule an appointment with one of our Consultants, please call 020 3926 5615 or email info@gop.health.
Do I need a referral letter?
If you are claiming through your health insurance, they may need a GP referral before authorising your consultation and treatment. Please call 020 3926 5615 if you are unsure and our team will be able to guide you.
If you are paying for treatment yourself then you do not need a referral letter.
Do I need a new or follow-up appointment?
How much does it cost?
Our Consultants are recognised by all the major health insurers. In most cases all outpatient costs should be covered by your insurance, but please check with your insurance company.
If you are paying for yourself, new appointments are £350 and follow up appointments are £225.
How can I be sure that my insurance will cover me?
If you have private medical insurance, please contact your insurer to confirm that you are covered for your consultation and imaging appointments and whether you will need a GP referral. Please do this prior to seeing a Consultant. Your insurance company will provide you with an authorisation code which we will need when booking your appointment, along with your policy or membership number. Please bring your pre-authorisation code for your consultation and/or treatment, along with your policy or membership number. All of this information can be obtained from your insurance company.
What happens if I have an overseas insurer or live overseas?
If you are insured through an overseas insurer, you will need to pay on the day of your appointment and then claim the cost back from your insurance company. However, if you present a letter of guarantee we may be able to deal directly with your insurer.
If you live overseas and are paying for yourself, you will be required to pay in full before your appointment or any treatment.
What happens if I am sponsored by an embassy?
Embassy or sponsored patients should provide a letter of guarantee (LOG) in advance of each appointment. This letter should be presented on official letterhead, stating who is responsible for their consultation and treatment and where the invoice needs to be directed. Without a letter of guarantee, patients will be asked to settle their own account on the day prior to seeing the Consultant.
What is the process if I am paying for my own treatment?
Patients will be asked to provide credit card details at the time of booking. Once your visit is complete, we will email an invoice and process the payment on the provided card within seven days of the invoice date.
What happens if I cancel or miss an appointment?
We reserve the right to charge the patient the full amount owed to the surgeon for an appointment if you cancel within 24 hours or fail to attend the appointment.
Where will the appointment be?
Our Consultants work at a number of central London private hospitals, and all adult patients can be seen at King Edward Viis Hospital. Other locations include: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Private Wing, The Lister Hospital Chelsea, The Wellington Hospital, The London Clinic, and HCA Chiswick Outpatient Centre. When booking your appointment please be sure to confirm which venue you will be seen at. See our locations page here for more information.
Is there disabled access?
All the hospitals we use have disabled access. If you have specific requirements, please call the hospital in advance and they will assist you with your plans.
Is a translator available?
It is very important that you are able to communicate with your Consultant effectively at the time of your consultation. We can arrange for a translator to be present either on the telephone or in person. Please let us know at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment. You will be responsible for the costs of the translator provided.
Is there parking?
Parking in London is very difficult. Please refer to the website of the hospital you are attending for details of local parking options.
If you choose to arrive by public transport or taxi; please ensure you leave enough time to incorporate any delays that may occur.
What do I need to bring?
- Details of your insurer and any pre authorisation numbers
- Details of previous medical treatments.
- A list of any medications you take regularly
- Copies of any scans or X rays you have had on the joint of interest.
What should I wear?
You are likely to require an examination. We therefore recommend you wear clothes that are loose or easy to remove. Gowns will be provided for you if needed.
What will happen at the appointment?
Your consultant will ask you a number of questions regarding your problem, and your previous medical history. This will be followed by a physical examination. Depending on the findings, it may be necessary to organise further tests which may include (but not be limited to) X rays, scans, ultrasounds or blood tests. Once all the information has been gathered, your Consultant will discuss your diagnosis and the options for treatment with you.
Are chaperones available?
Yes. Please let the nursing staff know on your arrival if you require a chaperone.
Will I need a follow-up appointment?
If further tests are organised, typically an appointment one week later will be organised to go through the results with you.
If you have had an operation, you will be called once you leave hospital and a follow up appointment will be made with you by our secretarial team.
How do I cancel or re-arrange an appointment?
It is very important to let us know in advance if you are unable to make your appointment so that we can allocate your slot to another patient. Please call us on 020 3926 5615.
When will I have my investigation?
Availability of investigations varies between hospitals and clinics, however in most cases, investigations may be completed on the same day or the day after a consultation.
What types of investigation are there?
X-rays – these are used for assessment of bones and joints. X-rays involve exposure to a small amount of radiation, if you are pregnant or could be pregnant it is important that you let us know as it may be safer to delay the investigation.
Ultrasound – these scans are performed by a radiologist or radiographer to assess soft tissues. They may also be used to help guide the placement of injections into a joint or around a soft tissue.
CT scan – these scans are predominantly used for looking at bones. They provide more information than x-rays but require more radiation to achieve this. If you are pregnant or could be pregnant it is important that you let us know as it may be safer to delay the investigation.
MRI scan – these scans use powerful magnets to produce an image of bones and joints. No radiation is required but if you have certain types of metal objects in your body it may not be possible to have a MRI scan. You will be asked to fill in a safety questionnaire before you undergo an MRI scan.
Blood tests – these tests are performed to look for evidence of infection and inflammation. They are also required before larger operations to ensure you are fit for the procedure and to check your blood group.
When will I get my results?
If performed in advance, X-rays can usually be reviewed by your Consultant during your consultation. Scans (ultrasound, MRI and CT) will be reviewed by an imaging specialist (radiologist) and a report sent to your consultant. The report is usually available 24 hours after the scan. Our standard practice is to see patients for a follow up appointment one week after requesting a scan to discuss the results and plan treatment. If you would like the results faster, please discuss this with your Consultant at your consultation.
How do I arrange the operation date?
Your Consultant will discuss potential operation dates with you at the time of your appointment. You will receive a call from our administration team following your consultation to confirm a date that is convenient for you.
What is a pre-operative assessment
Your safety at the time of operation is our utmost priority. Pre-operative assessment is important to determine your suitability for anaesthetic and to optimise your health in advance. Most patients over the age of 50 or those with significant pre-existing medical conditions will require pre-operative assessment. You will receive a call from a nurse to arrange your pre-operative assessment clinic appointment. Typically, a heart tracing (ECG), blood tests, urine tests and swabs to exclude the presence of MRSA will be performed. The nurse will also review your medications. You may be required to see the Anaesthetist in person.
How do I change the date of an operation?
Please call 020 3926 5615 as soon as possible. This will allow your operation slot to be reallocated to another patient.
Who will be my anaesthetist?
Our team of anaesthetists perform the majority of anaesthetics for our Consultants, however we do work with other highly experienced anaesthetists. Please let us know if there is a particular anaesthetist that you would like to care for you and we will do our best to accommodate this.
How do I find out the cost of an operation?
If you are self-funding your operation then we will provide you with a formal quote prior to your admission. This will include hospital fees, surgeon fees and anaesthetic fees and will cover the period of your inpatient care only. There will be a refundable cost for unexpected expenses. Please note that our surgeon fees are fixed and reviewed on a yearly basis.
What do I need to do before an operation?
Your Consultant will discuss the preparation for your operation with you as this will vary according to the operation. You will be sent a checklist of things to ensure you have done in the build up to your operation. For larger operations or procedures requiring a general anaesthetic you will need to be seen by the pre-assessment team in advance of your surgery date. For joint replacement surgery you may be provided with anti-bacterial soap to use on the evening prior to surgery. For inpatient stays, we would recommend you prepare a bag with night clothes, easy fitting day clothes, spare underwear, toiletries and favourite snacks for your stay. If you are undergoing a general anaesthetic you should not eat for 6 hours before surgery. This includes chewing gum, milky drinks and sweets. You can drink clear water normally up to two hours before your operation, with small sips of water up to the time that the operation starts. If you take regular medication, the pre-assessment team will discuss with you which ones you should take on the days before and the day of your operation.
When will I sign a consent form?
In most cases, your Consultant will have discussed the alternative options to surgery, the advantages of the operation and the risks during your consultation. A consent form detailing these will be signed prior to the operation.
What is day-case surgery?
Increasingly, orthopaedic operations are able to be performed as day cases. This includes arthroscopic surgery, ligament reconstruction and in some cases joint replacements. This is due to advances in surgical techniques, anaesthetic and pain control strategies. It means that you will not be required to stay overnight in hospital following your operation. Many patients prefer this option as it means you can sleep in your own bed and use your own bathroom at home. You will take the same medications at home as you would in hospital. Studies show that patients have a greater satisfaction with their recovery when it is done at home. Discuss with your Consultant to see if your operation can be done as a day-case.
What will happen whilst I am in hospital?
Upon arrival in the hospital you will be shown to your room. The nursing staff will check you in and complete some paperwork with you. You will be asked to change into a hospital gown and to wear specialist compression stockings on your legs. Your Consultant will visit you in your room to answer any questions you may have. The site of surgery will be marked with a pen. You will be asked to sign a consent form. The anaesthetist will go through the details of the anaesthetic with you and answer your questions. Once all the checks have been performed you will be escorted to the operating theatre complex. Following surgery, you will be transferred to a recovery ward prior to returning to your room. You Consultant will visit you in the recovery ward and go through the details of the operation with you. Once you have recovered from your anaesthetic you will be returned to your room. Later in the day following the operation you will be seen by the physiotherapy team who will guide you on the next steps.
When can I go home?
You will be able to go home once you have been assessed by your Consultant and have passed all the requirements of the physiotherapist. You will not be advised to go home until the team are satisfied that you will be safe. Any additional help that you will need at home will be organised prior to your discharge. You will be given some medications to take at home as well as instructions for the early phases of your recovery.
Who do I contact if I have a question or problem after leaving hospital?
During working hours (Monday to Friday 0900-1700) please contact our dedicated team on 020 3926 5615. They will arrange for your Consultant or, if necessary, one of the other Grosvenor Orthopaedic Partners Consultant team to call you. Out of hours, please contact the hospital where you had surgery.
Where do I have my stitches/clips removed?
Your Consultant will let you know when this should occur. In most cases this can be performed in the hospital in which you had surgery or at your GP.
When will I be seen again by my surgeon?
Your Consultant will discuss with you when your first post-operative appointment should be.
If I need physiotherapy, who do I contact?
Your Consultant will be happy to offer recommendations on physiotherapists to aid your rehabilitation after surgery.
Patient Fees
OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENT
Please take the time to carefully read the following as it contains important information that we are required by law to provide to you. As this includes information about our charges, if you do not have private medical insurance but someone else will be paying your bill, you may wish them to review this page on our website. Please note that even if someone else is paying your bill or you have private medical insurance, you are responsible for paying any charges, which they do not pay.
CONSULTATION FEES
Our fee for an initial consultation will not exceed £350 and our fee for any follow-up consultation will not exceed £225.
Following your consultation, you may need certain tests (such as blood tests or imaging, for example an X-ray, MRI or CT scan) to help your consultant diagnose your condition. If the test is undertaken by the clinic or hospital, and not by us, the fees for those tests will be determined by the clinic or hospital and charged to you, or your private medical insurer, separately.
If there are any fees, which we will charge in relation to any of the tests we advise that you have, we will let you know what those will be.
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