Treatment processes at Clinica London

When a patient comes for a consultation at Clinica London, we carry out a consultation assessment. If the patient presents a medical problem, it would be an initial medical consultation, and if the patient presents an aesthetic problem, then it will be an initial aesthetic consultation.
Concerning self-pay patients, if it is an initial aesthetic consultation, then a charge is made which ranges from £150 to £300. If it relates to a more complex medical issue, the average fee for a consultation is about £250. If the patient has private medical insurance, all the Clinica London consultants are fee assured.
Before the consultation, we ask the patient to fill out a registration form where we can learn about his or her concerns and also if he or she has any existing medical problems or are taking any medications. The form also gives the patient an opportunity to give the name and address of the GP, and they can let us know whether they want us to copy our report to the GP.
When the patient arrives at the clinic, they are first seen by the nurse who goes through the form, and they put the information onto the patient’s electronic medical record. After that, if there is any test that has to be done before the patient sees the doctor such as visual fields or imaging of the retina or the disc then these are done and presented to the surgeon.
The consultant dermatologist ophthalmologist will see the patient for about half an hour but it is not strictly timed and it can be a few minutes less or a few minutes longer depending on individual’s requirements. During the consultation we listen to what the patient’s concern is and then examine them, focusing the examination on the area where the patient is concerned about most. Then we discuss our findings with the patient and provide the possible options for treatment.
There are always several options for treatment and it is a part of the patient-doctor discussion to help decide on what the best option is actually going to be for that individual patient.
Some options are what I call “lighter options” and carry fewer side effects but may not be so effective. In contrast, some options are more interventional and are likely to be more effective but they carry a higher possibility of side effects or complication risk. Decisions would be made based on balancing out the risks versus the benefit and the patient has to be well informed about options, the risks of each and the benefit of each.
Occasionally we will suggest to a patient that there is no treatment. In other words, there is only one option that is reasonable and that is not to have anything done because we feel that other options will not do them any good and might in fact potentially do them harm and then they would be very disappointed.
At Clinica London, we have five ophthalmologists and one dermatologist. We have to give objective professional advice based on our skills as a dermatologist and ophthalmologists in whichever speciality field we are in. Reception tries to send the patient to the consultant who is the most suitable for that patient’s problem.
Occasionally one of us will examine a patient and say that we have done everything we can do but during the examination. If we have found that there is a problem that is more suited to either one of the other consultants here at this clinic or to a consultant at another hospital or clinic outside of Clinica London as that is in their best interest.
So we “do what it says on the packet” or on the website. We give out professional advice. At the end of the consultation, we dictate a written report which usually follows on to the patient after two to seven days. If the patient wants us to write to the GP or their optician, they can be included as well.