Coronavirus – COVID 19

Our testing regimens at The Private Clinic are changing to be in line with NHS England and UK Health Security Agency guidance.

Most patients are no longer required to have a test for Covid-19 ahead of their procedure. The exceptions are as outlined below. 

For patients having a surgical procedure under General Anaesthetic:

• If you experience typical symptoms within 7 weeks prior to your surgery date you should arrange a test no later than 48 hours before your planned surgery date and advise the clinic if your test is positive.
• If you have tested positive within 7 weeks of surgery, please inform your clinic. The clinic will advise if your surgery needs to be deferred to a later date.

For patients having a procedure under Local Anaesthetic/Sedation:

• If you experience typical symptoms within 2 weeks prior to your procedure date you should arrange a test no later than 48 hours before your planned procedure date and advise the clinic if your test is positive. 
• If you have tested positive within 2 weeks, please inform your clinic. The clinic will advise if your surgery needs to be deferred to a later date.

To find out more please phone 0333 414 9485 or request a call back here.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Our testing regimens at The Private Clinic are changing to be in line with NHS England and UK Health Security Agency guidance.

Going forwards, only the following patients having surgery will need to test for Covid-19 ahead of treatment:

• Day-case patients* who are not fully vaccinated (2 doses)
• All patients requiring an overnight stay at our Fitzroy Hospital

*Including Hair Transplant and Varicose Vein treatments

Those who require it will need to have a lateral flow device test (LFD) on admission to a clinic or Fitzroy Hospital.

The cost of the test is £30 and the process for charging will be confirmed with the patient upon booking.

Further advice on coordinating this testing regimen for patients will be circulated separately.

There is no requirement for any patients to have a PCR test.

To find out more please phone 0333 414 9485 or request a call back here.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

19th July 2021

On the 19th July 2021 Covid-19 restrictions were eased in England. 

To ensure the safety for our patients, staff and medical team, The Private Clinic have decided to continue with the Covid-19 protocols as outlined in the video above.

All of our clinics are open and you will be able to find more information on opening hours and contact details for your local clinic here.

We will continue to offer video consultations alongside in clinic consultations with our surgeons.  

To book a consultation please phone 0333 414 9485 or request a call back here.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

1st June 2021

Our clinics nationwide remain open for your medical appointments.

Video consultations for medical procedures are available with our Consultant surgeons and doctors.

Services will be delivered in line with the Government’s social distancing measures and in compliance with guidance from Public Health England, including the appropriate use of PPE.

If you would like to speak to someone about your consultation, please call us on 0333 414 9485.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

8th January 2021

Our clinics nationwide remain open for your medical appointments.

We are operating a reduced service. If your appointment is affected a member of the team will contact you. 

Video consultations for medical procedures are available with our Consultant surgeons and doctors.

Services will be delivered in line with the Government’s social distancing measures and in compliance with guidance from Public Health England, including the appropriate use of PPE.

If you would like to speak to someone about your consultation, please call us on 0333 414 9485.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

4th January 2021

Our clinics nationwide remain open for your medical appointments and treatments.  

We are offering a reduced service in Tier 4.

If your appointment is affected a member of the team will contact you. 

Services will be delivered in line with the Government’s social distancing measures and in compliance with guidance from Public Health England, including the appropriate use of PPE.

If you would like to speak to someone about your consultation, please call us on 0333 414 9485.

3rd November 2020

Our clinics nationwide remain open for your medical appointments and treatments.

Services will be delivered in line with the Government’s social distancing measures and in compliance with guidance from Public Health England, including the appropriate use of PPE.
If you would like to speak to someone about your consultation, please call us on 0333 414 9485.

27th May 2020

Please see our Covid-19 FAQ’s below for more information about booking a consultation and visiting our clinics.

22nd May 2020

The first step of your journey: phone or video e consultation
The first step of your journey will involve a consultation over the phone or via an online video service with one of our knowledgeable patient coordinators. Their job is to assess which procedure you are interested in and to gather questions you might have. The clinical coordinator will be able to answer any questions about your visit to the clinic and the steps involved. They will forward your personal and medical details to your doctor, along with any clinical queries, in time for the next step of your journey.

Your second consultation
Your second consultation – this time with the doctor – may take place over the phone, by video consultation or in person, depending on what is most appropriate for your case. Should you be travelling far, an initial phone consultation might be advisable. All of this will be clarified during your first call with your patient coordinator, who will remain your point of contact throughout.

Visiting the clinic

• If you, or anyone who lives with you, have symptoms related to COVID-19, please do not come to the clinic. These symptoms primarily include a dry cough and/or a temperature of 37.8°C or more. Other symptoms of the disease are less frequent but may affect you. These include a loss of the sense of taste or smell, fatigue, confusion, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea. However, we recommend that you inform your patient coordinator at the earliest opportunity if you develop ANY symptoms of feeling unwell.
• If you, or anyone who lives with you, tests positive for COVID-19 on a PCR (Antigen) test, even if asymptomatic, please do not come to the clinic. The PCR test is the one in which swabs are taken from your mouth and nose.
• When visiting our clinic, you will be asked to arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before your appointment time. We will not be able to accommodate patients who arrive late. Should you arrive earlier you will be asked to wait outside, until it is time for your appointments.
• Those attending our clinic in person will be required to follow social distancing rules and whenever possible to keep the 2 meters recommended distance. There will be markings on the floor to assist you.
• To ensure the safety of everyone in the clinic, patients will be asked to come alone and for any accompanying person to wait outside. Should you need a person with you – for translation, mobility needs and similar – please confirm it at the time of your booking.
• On entering the clinic you will be required to have your temperature taken and to complete a questionnaire to update us on your well being.
• Hand sanitiser will be available for you to use upon entry, both before entering the consultation room and on departure.
• Patients will be asked to wear masks when appropriate. If you wish to wear a mask, we can provide one at the clinic.
• Unfortunately, we will limit access to the waiting room and refreshments area, where previously our patients would have relaxed or made use of the WiFi before being seen by their doctor or practitioner. This measure is necessary at this stage and will be lifted only when it is safe to do so. Water in disposable cups will be provided on request.
• Toilets will remain available and will be cleaned after each use.

Having surgery or an aesthetic treatment

• Following Government advice, as well as NHS England and CQC guidelines, services will be restarted at different stages, with non-surgical treatments and those under local anaesthesia resuming sooner. The full range of plastic surgery procedures requiring a general anaesthetic will be reintroduced at a later date. Once again this is to protect your safety.
• For certain treatments, including major surgery or hair transplant, you will be required to have a COVID-19 Antigen test involving a throat and nasal swab. You will be made aware of the need for a test and the costs associated with it ahead of time. Should your test result come back positive, the procedure will need to be postponed.

Post-Operative Care
We will continue to focus on the individual needs of our patients and all post-operative care will be administered following strict transmission prevention measures.

If your follow-up appointment does not require any physical clinic care or examination, then this will take place over the phone or by video consultation.

24th March 2020

Following government advice on social distancing due to COVID-19 and the mounting difficulties of staff commuting into clinics, we feel it is in our patients and staff’s best interests to temporarily close the private clinics for the time being.

We know some of you were upset to have your treatment cancelled at short notice and we apologise for any inconvenience caused at what is already a difficult time for everyone.
We will be contacting you individually over the next few days to discuss further and reorganise your treatment. Please note, if you have already been contacted regarding changes to your appointment as a result of these measures you do not need to contact us.

Despite the clinics being closed to the public, please be reassured that we will continue to provide you with the aftercare required following your procedure. You will be able to reach us via phone and email and, should it be required, we will still be able to organise a follow-up in person with your surgeon or nurse.