About The Practice
General
This is a totally independent Private Medical Practice. It is single handed, ensuring continuity of care and complete confidentiality for patients. We aim to make the care of each patient our first concern and to provide sufficient consultation time for each patient’s needs to be fully met.
The practice provides childhood and adult vaccines and family medicine.
Dr Oakley sees children of any age for paediatric consultations for advice, treatment, specialist referral, or second opinions. Dr Oakley was previously Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital, Sheffield. He was elected a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRPCH) in August 2008.
Dr Oakley also sees adult patients only for Aesthetic/Cosmetic medical (non-surgical) consultation and treatment. This includes treatment for fine facial lines and wrinkles, excessive underarm perspiration (hyperhidrosis), and unsightly leg veins. Heather Bratt-Rose BSc (Hons), R.M. also provides consultations and treatments for fine facial lines.
We have no affiliation with the NHS. Dr. Oakley recommends that your NHS GP is informed of your visit and treatment here. If you prefer your consultation and treatment here to remain in strict confidence we will respect your wishes.
This is a private consulting practice. The practice is
not designed to replace your NHS GP. It is a medical service that is additional and complementary to the NHS. It provides you with an opportunity to obtain a second opinion, facilitate specialist referral and access aspects of medical care that are not readily available from the NHS, or that are subject to lengthy delays or long waiting lists. Accordingly there is no need to pay for formal registration or make a financial commitment to a long term contract for retention with the practice.
We regret that we cannot offer 24 hour emergency cover since patients frequently attend from long distances (often from outside the West Midlands). Payment of fees is requested at the end of each appointment on an item of service basis. We accept payment by credit/debit cards, cash or postal orders. I regret we can no longer accept cheques.
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Receptionists
There are four receptionists:
- Lynn, my wife, who is also the Practice administrator.
- Jennie Rolfe joined the team in January 2006. As well as working on reception Jennie is Practice secretary.
- Sue Doyle joined us in November 2006.
- Carolyn Hole joined the team in July 2007.
All are experienced, helpful and happy to sort out queries and give general information about the practice.
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Fees
At present the consultation fee is £75. If you need medication, you will be given a private prescription which can be taken to any Pharmacist. The Pharmacist will charge a fee for dispensing the prescribed medication. Drugs issued on private prescription often cost less than the NHS prescription charge. Always ensure that you read the information regarding your medication carefully.
The fees for Certification and/or examinations such as for HGV or PSV licences are those recommended by the BMA (British Medical Association) at the time. The fee for an ECG carried out at the Practice is £65. The fee for standard blood tests carried out at the Practice varies between £45 and £65 per test depending on the test required. We will discuss the costs with you before any tests are carried out.
The practice has full access to Private X-Ray, Biochemistry and Pathology services, private Physiotherapy, and referral to all Private Hospital Consultants and Specialists. Fees for these hospital based services are normally covered by Private Medical Insurance, when you have been referred by this Practice. Completing Insurance Claim Forms will incur a charge at the standard BMA rate. At present, fees for primary care (medical care outside hospital) are rarely covered by Private Medical Insurance.
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Single Vaccines
The all inclusive fee for each vaccine is currently;
- Measles - £110
- Mumps - £155
- Rubella - £110
- Chicken Pox - £125
- Pneumovax - £85
- Meningitis 'C' - £85
Fees for other vaccines are available on request.
Fees for vaccines are subject to change without notice depending on Supplier charges.
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Appointments
Consultations are by appointment only and allocated on a fifteen minute basis. Longer appointments can be made on a pro rata fifteen minute basis. Appointments are usually available on the same day for urgent problems.
My yardstick for medical practise is to assume that the patient is me, or an equivalent member of my family, and treat the patient accordingly. Some appointments will take longer than expected because of this. I will always apologise if I keep you waiting as a result of this, and the time available for your appointment will not be affected. If you wish a chaperone to be present during your medical examination, please bring a suitable adult with you.
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Tests
Most blood tests, urine tests, ECGs and hospital Consultant referrals are performed during the time of your appointment, as required. If you need medication a private prescription will be given - this can be taken to any Pharmacist. Always ensure that you read the information regarding your medication carefully.
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Side Effects
I always encourage patients to contact me if they think they may be experiencing side-effects as a result of prescribed medication. There is no additional fee for any advice or alteration in treatment as a result of this.
If you should ever have any questions, comments or complaints about your medical treatment here, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact me or Mrs Lynn Oakley in person, by telephone or by letter. We will always respond. In the event of a complaint not being resolved within the practice, you have access to an independent review procedure via the Independent Doctors Forum (IDF) and also via the Healthcare Commission.
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Your NHS GP
Although your consultation and treatment here will remain in strict confidence, I do recommend that your NHS GP is informed of your visit and treatment here. This is particularly important if you require any additional treatment.
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Regulations
The General Medical Council (GMC) has recently introduced new regulations concerning the continuing education and quality of performance of all medical doctors. Every doctor now has to provide evidence at regular five yearly intervals that he remains fit to practise. This is called Revalidation. He also has to undergo an annual Appraisal to ensure that he is providing patient care and treatment of a sufficiently high quality so that he can meet the standards for Revalidation. This is an ongoing process to protect patients from underperforming doctors. I am actively participating in the process and will provide summaries of my performance if requested. Part of this process involves a patient survey, carried out regularly. I hope you will find time to complete the short questionnaire if requested. Comments about specific or general aspects of the Practice are helpful and we welcome them at any time.
I aim to provide medical care of a quality that exceeds the standards of Good Medical Practice as laid down by the GMC.
Private medical practice is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission (formerly Healthcare Commission) with whom I am registered (registration no: 40328). If you wish to contact the Care Quality Commission for information please contact;
CQC National Correspondence
PO Box 1258
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 5AU
Telephone: 03000 616161
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