I am recognised as a Specialist Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon by all major insurance companies. Please contact your insurance company before your first consultation and for all subsequent visits and investigations or interventions. You will need to obtain a preauthorisation number for each of these episodes. Please read the guidance from the Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations (FIPO).

How much do the consultations costs?

I charge within all health insurers limits and you should not have any out of pocket expenses, except where a policy excess is due. As long as you gain prior approval from your insurer, my billings team will liaise directly with the insurer for all billing and invoicing related issues.

Please be careful to check that your care is covered by your insurance company. Please check the fine print of your Private insurance contract for “excess payments” on your policy. If an excess is due you will be contacted by medical healthcare management limited subsequent to your appointment to arrange for payment of the excess.

Do I need a referral from my GP of Physiotherapist?

​Can I refer myself?

​If you are self funding (paying yourself rather than using a health insurer), you can refer yourself. However, if you are using health insurance, a referral from your GP or other specialist is usually required.

​What if I don’t have health insurance (I am self funding)?

If you are not insured, don’t worry. Please contact my secretary on 07907556805 or e-mail [email protected] for details on consultation fees. An estimate for investigations or surgery can also be obtained. The figures quoted are always guide prices and are based on the information provided by you.

I am self funding – when will I have to pay?

​So that I can focus solely on your medical treatment, all invoicing and billing is done separately by an independent company, medical healthcare management limited. They will contact you subsequent to your appointment to arrange invoice payment.

For surgical procedures, fees are payable to the hospital prior to admission. For common procedures, I try to make an arrangement with the hospital to offer a “package” which includes all costs relating to the surgery and follow up appointments including my fee. This is preferable as it allows you to get the best idea about how much your treatment will cost.  Otherwise, the hospital and I bill separately, with the hospital billing for all costs relating to the surgery and my bill coming from medical healthcare management limited. I will always be completely transparent about my fees and do my best to give you the best estimate related to the total cost of treatment before we proceed.

Preparing for your clinic appointment

General

I will do everything possible to make you feel at ease at your clinic appointment and get to the bottom of your symptoms. Although I endeavour to run on time, I never rush my patients and a consultation can sometimes take longer than expected. Please bring some refreshments and reading material for whilst you wait.

Patient questionnaire and outcomes

​My team will send you a patient information questionnaire and outcome scores by email or post as is convenient for you. You can complete this on your computer and return it via email or just fill it in at home and bring it in with you. If you happen to forget the questionnaire it is not a problem, as we can give you a new one but it is more convenient and efficient for you to complete this before your appointment.

Scans and referrals

Please bring a copy of your medication and any scans, xrays or referral letters with you. It will make it much easier for me to get a handle on what treatment you have had so far and focus on what we need to do to help you recover.

Preparing for Surgery

Once we have decided that surgery will help you, you will need to learn what to expect from the surgery and we will create a treatment plan for the best results afterward. Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Working Together

​​Before surgery, I will perform a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or the outcomes. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed a week before any major surgery.

Discuss any medications you are taking with me and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery

Discuss with me about options for preparing for potential blood replacement, includes donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments, prior to surgery

If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on your foot and ankle and help with recovery. However, you should not crash diet during the month before your surgery as it can actually slow down your healing. If we are concerned that your weight is a significant contributor to your problem, I can arrange for a referral for you to see a dietician to help with this.

If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or warfarin or any drugs that increase the risk of bleeding you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize bleeding

If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery

Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk of infection later

Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron

Report any infections to me leading up to the surgery. It is much safer to delay your surgery until infections have cleared up

Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry

Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have to reach and bend as often

Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls

Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms

Preparing for Procedures

​If you are having Day Surgery, remember the following:

Have someone available to take you home, you will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours

Do not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip home

The combination of anaesthesia, food, and car motion can quite often cause nausea or vomiting. After arriving home, wait until you are hungry before trying to eat. Begin with a light meal and try to avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours

For the first few days after surgery, keep the foot elevated as much as possible and use ice for the swelling. This will help decrease swelling and pain

Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable, but before you are in severe pain. If you wait to take your pain medication until the pain is severe, you will have more difficulty in controlling the pain