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E: info@wharfedaleclinic.co.uk
wharfedale clinic

FAQs

These are some of the questions we are often asked.  However, if you have any other questions, our reception staff will be happy to help.

Do I need a referral?

If you’re using health insurance, you’ll usually need a GP or consultant referral. In all other cases, it is possible to self refer.

Do you only treat sports injuries?

We treat musculoskeletal injuries (including sports injuries) and also other musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain or osteoarthritis. We see a wide range of patients of all different ages.

How much does it cost?

Our practitioners are all independent so they set their own fees.  Their current appointment and consultation fees are shown in the link below:

PRACTITIONERS FEES

As far as fees for medical procedures such as injections   are concerned,  we aim to be competitive. To help keep things simple, fees, terms and conditions are the same whether you choose to see Dr Speight or Dr Lakhera.

If you require any further information on fees prior to booking an appointment, please contact  a member of our reception staff.

Can I use my health insurance?

Our practitioners vary in which insurance companies they deal with but our reception staff can advise on this.  If you are using health insurance, please check with and gain authorisation from your insurer before you attend.

If an insurer (or any other third party) declines to meet any of the appointment/treatment costs – either in part of in full, the patient will become responsible for any shortfall that arises.

Patients should also note that for podiatry services, most insurers do not cover the cost of foot orthoses.  Orthoses made in clinic by the podiatrist are typically around £55.00 a pair

For patients who wish to claim back from a “Hospital Fund” or “Cash Plan” policy such as those operated by Simply Health, please ensure that you check the terms of your policy before you attend.  Most of these policies will cover therapies such as physiotherapy, podiatry and osteopathy. As far as medical claims on these policies are concerned, the General Medical Council (GMC) does not have a specialist register for Musculoskeletal Medicine, so will not cover for claims for Dr Speight made under the medical provisions of a cash plan. Some private medical insurers do have discretionary recognition for specialist doctors in Musculoskeletal Medicine, but they do not tend to apply these criteria to their simpler cash plan policies.

What is access like at the clinic?

Treatment Rooms: We have two treatment rooms on the ground floor and one on the first floor. If you have difficulty managing stairs, please make our reception staff aware when booking your appointment so that they can ensure that a ground floor treatment room is available for you.

Parking: we have a small car parking area adjacent to our main entrance (which can accommodate two vehicles), and the clinic is also located next to the car park at the Morrison’s supermarket in Guiseley (Morrison’s have an agreement with the council to allow anyone using the town’s facilities to park for up to three hours).

Entrance: We have a low threshold at the main front door entrance and a portable wheelchair ramp for use where required.

Other: There is also a wheelchair accessible toilet on the ground floor. We also have a portable loop system available, so please mention this at reception should you wish to use it.

What happens at my first visit?

The practitioner will take a detailed history and conduct a physical assessment to try to establish the precise nature of your problem. They will also try to identify any causative, and/or perpetuating factors before recommending a management/treatment plan.

Where the patient wishes to proceed with treatment at the first visit, we aim to do this if appropriate. Please note however that this may not be possible for insured patients receiving medical procedures from our specialist doctors. This is because the insurer often has to approve the recommended treatment and may also require a written report to assist them in this decision.

What should I wear?

Your practitioner will need to be able to assess and treat you. For example, for the assessment of a back condition, a practitioner will need to be able to see and examine your back so it will be necessary to partly undress to allow this.  Some of our patients like to bring a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to change into.

For podiatry appointments, we also ask that you wear clothing that allows easy access to your feet and lower legs, such as a loose pair of trousers or again, some shorts.

Is there anything I should bring with me to my first appointment?

If you have previously received investigations such as x-rays, it may be helpful if you can bring along a copy of the results of these if they have not been forwarded on directly by your doctor. If you are also taking any medication, please bring along a list of what you are taking.

For podiatry appointments – your podiatrist can obtain helpful information about the way you walk or run from the wear pattern on your shoes, so bringing in a selection of shoes that you currently wear is useful.  Runners and other athletes with biomechanical problems may need to run for an accurate assessment to be made. Sometimes this is performed on the treadmill in clinic and at other times, we use the area at the back of the clinic to assess a more natural running style. For such patients, it may be appropriate to bring a pair of running shoes and some suitable clothing for this purpose.

If I have an injection, can I drive afterwards?

Most injections involve the administration of some local anaesthetic  and the decision about whether a person will be likely to be able to drive following injection should be based on a number of factors.  You should therefore discuss this with your practitioner. 

If you have received analgesia in the form of Entonox gas during your injection procedure, you should also wait at least 30 minutes before driving and again, you should only do so if you feel fit to do so.

Remember, you should only drive if you feel fit to do so, and if you consider that you would be able to perform an emergency stop if it was necessary to do so.  To do otherwise  could invalidate your insurance policy.

What happens if I need a referral to another practitioner?

Musculoskeletal problems by their very nature sometimes require multidisciplinary input. If one of our practitioners feels that you would benefit some the input of another healthcare professional (either here at the clinic, or elsewhere), they will discuss this with you and (subject to your consent)

What is the difference between a podiatrist and a chiropodist?

There is no difference. The term “Chiropodist” was changed in 1993 to the more modern term “Podiatrist”.

 



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