FAQ’s

If you’re unsure about booking an appointment, or don’t quite understand how the service works, take a look at some of these FAQ’s for the answers.

Drop me an email if your query isn’t answered here.

Appointments

How long will the appointment last?

Most initial appointments will last between 30-45 minutes. Follow ups are a little shorter at around 15-20 minutes depending on your needs.

Which sort of appointment should I book?

This will depend on what sort of symptoms you currently have and wish to discuss. Please take a look at the Services section for more information.

How much does a consultation cost?

There is a full list of consultation fees here.

Do I need to bring any information to my consultation?
Most of the information I will need for an effective consultation will be part of the pre-consult questionnaire but if you have any parts of your medical record you think are relevant (for example scan reports, blood tests or hospital letters) then it would be a good idea to bring these with you.
Am I able to bring a friend or relative to the appointment?
Yes, of course! I would advise a maximum of one trusted friend or family member as the consultation room would feel crowded if there were any more people.
Do I need a referral letter from my GP?
You don’t need a referral letter from your GP.
Will you contact my GP after the appointment?
If you agree, your GP will receive a letter from me following your appointment- this is to ensure there is somebody holding a complete medical record for you in one place.

Your GP is under no obligation to follow any recommendations I may have if you are wanting to switch your care from the private to the NHS sector and is under no obligation to prescribe anything I recommend.

NHS GP and hospital services are under extreme cost and time pressures to provide the services they currently do. The purpose of the Lincolnshire Women’s Clinic is to relieve some of that pressure by CREATING healthcare CHOICE for the local population.

Will my medical insurance cover the cost of the consultation?
No. I am not registered with any medical insurance companies and menopause is not covered under most policies.
How do I book a consultation?
Bookings can be made via the Booking Page. If you are unsure about making a booking please contact me via email first so we can make sure you’re getting the right service.
When do you take payment?
Payment is taken upfront upon booking for the consultation time. Any additional payments can be made via contactless payment. Please see the Terms and Conditions of Business document for more information regarding payments.
How often will I need to be seen after my initial consultation?
This will depend on the sort of condition you have and whether you wish to continue treatment with myself or not. Most women’s health conditions and the associated treatments do require a degree of follow up, preferably with the same clinician who initiated the management process. This can be expensive in the private sector, but I do recommend this approach to all my clients purely because it is a lot safer and produces the most satisfactory outcomes. Every initial consultation will be followed up by email, usually within 6 weeks, so it may be at that point you decide to book in for another consult.

There is no obligation to see me for follow up and if you are unable to do so, I would make sure your GP is fully informed of the consultation via email correspondence if you agree to this. Please note, however, there are some treatments I’m not able to offer unless I am able to follow these up myself- prescriptions of HRT, testosterone or certain steroid treatments for example.

I would encourage all my clients to see myself for follow-up, and I have made this as cost-friendly as possible by providing follow up packages

Are you able to refer me to a NHS obsterician or gynaecologist?
I am not able to refer in to the NHS services in the scope of my private practice. However, if I see or suspect a serious condition which requires urgent/specialist care or attention, I have a duty of care as part of the doctor/patient relationship to make sure this is actioned. If this sort of case arises, I have contacts within local NHS services who I can liaise with and I can also communicate with your GP who can take action, in mitigating circumstances, within the NHS system.
What information will I receive after my appointment?
Your consultation will be summarised in a letter and sent to you via secure email. Your GP will also receive a copy, if you consent to this (recommended).
What if I need to reschedule or cancel my consultation?

Ideally I would like at least 72 hours notice of cancellation so I can offer the slot to somebody else. If you cancel after this time I do withhold the right to decline a refund, but life gets in the way sometimes. If you feel have an extenuating circumstance, please reach out and let me know.

Please see cancellation policy

Will you save my personal details?

Your personal information will be gathered and stored on a cloud-based clinic management system known as ‘Rehab Guru’. Please Read the Terms and Conditions of Business document for more information about Privacy and Data protection

Investigations

 

Blood Tests:

How would I know if I need a blood test?
I will only recommend various blood tests where I think they will add clinical information that would be useful to exclude certain conditions and/or guide further treatments. You can have whichever blood tests you request, but I will always be transparent and let you know whether I think they will be of any use or not. There are actually very few situations where blood tests are useful when it comes to navigating the menopause transition but some people are keen to know what their hormone levels are for example.
How are blood tests arranged?
I use a commercial company known as ‘Medichecks’ who provide postal blood taking services. As part of your consultation, I would recommend blood tests if I thought they would provide information needed to progress and create an effective treatment plan.
I will only take blood (as part of a consultation) and use my own kits if there is a follow up appointment arranged to discuss the results and onward treatment plan

It would be a very rare occurrence for me to recommend blood tests, without having a reason to act on or use the result to guide further management.

The results can be shared with you via email- and sometimes depending on the situation a management plan would be included with this if it was very straightforward/the results were all normal for example.

Off note: I do not make a profit on any investigations I recommend – they are provided at cost price from the supplier.

Your GP is unlikely to provide interpretation for privately requested blood tests.

How much do blood tests cost?
The price of blood tests varies from about £60-£160 depending on which tests and how many are ordered.
When will the results be available and how will I get them?

The results usually take several days to come back- any very abnormal results are flagged by the laboratory and would be phoned/emailed through urgently to myself.

Ultrasound Scans

How will I know if I need an ultrasound scan?
During the course of your consultation if I would recommend an ultrasound scan to investigate your symptoms further I will say so.
Who performs the scans and where are they done?
The scans are performed by Ultrasound Direct who work out of a consulting room at The Lawn.
What sort of scan would I have?
Within the scope of my independent practice, I only order pelvic scans to look at the womb, its lining, the ovaries and pelvic area.
How do I book a scan?
I will book a scan for you as part of your consultation, if it is deemed necessary.
How much does an ultrasound scan cost?
If you book your scan through myself, the interpretation and management plan will be included in this as long as another follow up appointment has been arranged. Ultrasound direct charge £145 just for the scan itself.

If you are unable to book a follow up appointment, the information from the scan belongs to you (as it is confidential medical information) and can be taken to your GP, who may chose to see you directly about it or liaise with gynaecology.

Prescriptions

How do private prescriptions differ from NHS prescriptions?
With a NHS prescription, the cost of the medicine is not factored into the cost of the flat-rate prescription so all medications carry the same tariff which is currently £9.90. If you wish to obtain medicines via a private prescription there is usually a charge from the doctor to create the prescription (typically £30-40) PLUS the cost of the medication and any charges the pharmacy makes as a ‘dispensing fee’, which they would normally claim from the health board for NHS prescriptions.

I do NOT charge for writing a private prescription as part of a consultation so the only costs absorbed by my clients would be the retail cost of the particular medication and the pharmacy’s dispensing fee (which is often just included in the medication cost).

It is important to note that HRT carries a different tariff from other medications since the NHS Pre-Payment certificate for HRT (HRT PPC) came into effect in April 2023. The NHS HRT PPC currently costs £19.80 for the year and covers the cost of most HRT preparations available in the UK. It does not cover prescriptions of testosterone and some preparations are not funded by all local health boards.

Some women may choose to consult with me for advice and then visit their GP requesting the change in medication/treatment plan that has been discussed privately, to be provided by a NHS prescription. Some GPs will cooperate with this as best they can, but others will not or are unable to do so and they have no obligations to provide a NHS prescription following a private consultation.

If you are wanting to know how much HRT will cost you privately here are some examples:

1 Pump Pack of Oestrogel
64 ‘pumps’ £15-25 per pack depending how much you bulk buy. Most women use 1-2pumps daily so one pack would last you 1-2 months.

Utrogestan Tablets
90 pill pack £55-70. This is usually taken daily so would work out at about £20 per month.

HRT Patches
vary in cost but are approximately £40-55 for 24 patches. You use 2 patches/week so this would be the cost for 3 months.

HRT Pills
again vary in cost but you could expect to pay £40-£55 for a 3 month supply.

How do I get my prescriptions dispensed?
Once a private prescription has been written for you, you’ll need to take it to a chemist for dispensing. You can ring ahead to see if they have your requirements in stock or whether they would need to be ordered in specifically.
Is there a charge for prescriptions?
I don’t charge for prescriptions if they are part of a consultation. I charge a small admin fee if you are requesting a repeat prescription without booking an appointment of £25 per script (not per medication). So if you required an oestrogen plus a progestogen for HRT you would only be charged £25 and not £50.