FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The information outlined below is provided as a guide only and it is not intended to be comprehensive. Discussion with Mr Hepple is important to answer any further questions that you may have.

For information about any additional queries you may have not featured within the site, please contact us for more information.

Consultations undertaken in Bristol:
New consultations £200.00
Follow up consultations £100.00

X-ray’s, MRI scans, Ultra-sound scans and CT scans can be performed at all of the hospitals in which we practice. Scans need to be booked and therefore cannot be guaranteed to happen on the same day.

When you arrive at Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic reception staff on the hospital front desk will greet you and collect your registration forms, which you will be sent to complete along with your appointment letter. They will then direct you to the relevant floor where you may wait for a short time in a small waiting room area. The consultant or nurse will come to collect you from the waiting area.

It would be advisable to attend 10-15 minutes earlier than the appointment time in order to complete paperwork and other relevant pre appointment requirements.

You may have referred yourself or have been referred by your GP/Physiotherapist. If you have been referred by your GP or physiotherapist, please bring along your referral letter or ask that it be faxed through to the clinic ahead of your appointment.  The consultant will discuss your relevant problem and enquire about your medical history. A thorough examination will then follow.

The consultant may request further investigations to assist in a diagnosis; X-ray and blood tests can be performed at the hospital you are attending. If you require an MRI or Ultrasound you will also be able to have these at the hospital, however some scans need to be booked and therefore cannot be guaranteed to happen on the same day.  If you are travelling along way to the appointment please ask the secretary if there is a possibility of requesting the scan on the same day and we will try to accommodate this where possible.

If you have had previous scans or X-rays related to your condition, please bring these along to all your consultations. Please also bring any copies of letters from your GP or specialists.

Some conditions may need to be treated immediately after the consultation. This may mean you need to have treatment with the Sport & Orthopaedic plaster technician or hospital nurse.

If a follow up consultation or further investigations are required the consultant will indicate this and will either show you to his administrative team or ask you to call his secretary to arrange. The consultant will then write to your GP and any other referring professionals who will be continuing your care. This will summarise your consultation and the planned investigations. A copy is also available for you if requested.

The consultant will discuss with you the results from your investigations. He will recommend the most appropriate treatment for your condition. This is a perfect opportunity to ask any relevant questions regarding your condition and care.

Depending on the results from these investigations the consultant will either discharge you from his care, refer you on to another health professional, book you in for surgery treatment/follow up or have Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic’s plaster technician/dressing nurse treat you.

If surgery is needed then the consultant will explain the whole procedure to you and what to expect afterwards.

The Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic has a plaster and dressings facilities at our inpatient and outpatient rooms at the hospital you are seen at.

Plaster change and wound checks are carried out by our skilled nurses and plaster technician in conjunction with your consultant.

The Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic recommends that you consult your insurance company regarding cover for the plaster casts, dressings, splints, slings and boots. This will help you to avoid any shortfall fees. Insurance companies do vary as to how much they cover Orthopaedic products and therefore the Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic will request all patients to pay for the Orthopaedic product on the day. You will be issued with a receipt so that you can reclaim costs with your insurer accordingly.

Certain conditions require injections for a full and quick recovery. These can include steroid and local anaesthetic or other anti-inflammatory drugs and are often used to heal inflamed / damaged areas and relieve pain.

Injections are administered at all of our hospital outpatient facilities.

If an operation is needed we will help arrange this for you. Surgery will require admission to the hospital you have been seen at where our consultants have admitting privileges. The surgeon’s secretary will be able to help book this for you.

The secretary will send you details of the operation, the code and the surgeons costs to allow you to gather an authorisation number from your insurance company. We would ask you to contact the secretary with this information. All medical insurers usually cover these hospitals. It is however important to always check with your insurer regarding your proposed operation and cover for the hospital and all fees. We will assist you with any information that you require.

If you are a self-paying patient we will organise an inclusive care quote for you based on the operation and code/s. This will include the hospital fee, surgeons’ fee, anaesthetist fee and a follow-up package with your surgeon, relevant to the surgery required.

You will be provided with instructions of when to stop eating and drinking, and when to arrive at the hospital. On the day of admission the hospital’s admission clerk will ask you some questions and will want to confirm your method of payment. Please bring your insurance details and if you are a self-payer you will have to settle the hospital bill prior to admission.

Once admitted and settled in your room or day unit, a nurse will confirm your identity and place a wristband on you. Some baseline observations will be undertaken and the nurse will be able to answer any other questions you have about your hospital stay. Any further required investigations like an ECG, chest X-ray and blood tests might be carried out at this time.

The Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic surgeon will visit you before your operation and will ask you to sign a consent form for the procedure. He will also visit you after your operation to check on your recovery.

The consultant anaesthetist will also need time with you before your operation to inform you about your anaesthetic and to check your health. Surgery can be undertaken under local, regional or general anaesthesia. You can discuss this with your surgeon and anaesthetist.

Our consultants can undertake only small or minor procedures using local anaesthesia in our outpatient facilities. All other procedures require admission to the hospital and our highly qualified anaesthetists who work with our doctors will administer general anaesthesia, sedation and local / regional blocks. All the anaesthetists that work with us will visit you prior to your procedure and explain the anaesthetic process.
Our consultants may prescribe analgesia medication for your condition and/or after surgery. Please inform our team of doctors if you have any allergies or medical conditions. The medication that is prescribed should be taken as instructed by our doctors or a pharmacist.

If you have any questions about your medication that your consultant has prescribed for you please contact us on 0117 9804024 or call your consultant’s secretary directly.

The Sport & Orthopaedic Clinic consultants collaborate with various units in and around Bristol for your specialised return to normal functional programme.

All our consultants work closely with a range of clinics and individuals throughout Bristol and the South West and will help you to find a practitioner that is appropriate for you. If you have been referred by your physiotherapist, the consultants will work with them advising on the rehabilitation regime required.

Discussion with Mr Hepple is important to answer any questions that you may have. For information about any additional conditions not featured within the site, please contact us for more information.

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