FAQ's

How do I get referred?

Mr Mike Hayton is happy to receive referrals from a variety of sources. However you should check with your insurance company whether you require a referral letter from your family doctor. If you wish to make an appointment the telephone numbers are on this web site at the hospital of your choice.

How long do I have to wait?

Waiting times for a routine non emergency private referral is usually less than 2 weeks. Emergency injuries and elite sports persons are offered a same day service but this usually incurs additional costs.

What do I need for my first appointment?

A referral letter from either you family doctor or physiotherapist is required. This may have already been sent direct to the hospital. You should also bring your insurance number and authorisation code for the consultation.

How long will the appointment last?

The standard new patient consultation lasts up to 20 minutes. Some conditions are very simple and a through explanation including demonstrations with anatomical models can take only 10 minutes. Some complex conditions can take much longer and Mike has usually identified these patients and made allowances for extra time. Follow up appointments last up to 10 minutes but again can vary from a few minutes to 20-30 minutes. Either way Mike hopes that at the end of the consultation enough time has been given to fully explain the issues involved.

How much does a consultation cost?

A new patient consultation costs £190 and a follow up £120. These are usually covered by your insurance company as they are within the normal guidelines. Please discuss matters further with our PA if you have any queries regarding this.

Will I need an X-ray?

Conditions that affect bone such as fractures and arthritis often need x-rays. An x-ray will be done on the same day and the results discussed with you by Mike. Most Insurance companies cover x-rays as part of the initial authorisation, but please check first.

What if I need a Scan?

Scans (MRI, CT, and ultrasound) are expensive and authorisation is almost always required by the insurance companies. Scans are usually performed on a separate day and a follow up appointment required discussing the results. On the day of the scan I recommend patients making a follow up appointment for a week by which time the x-ray doctor will have had time to review the images and write a report.

What if I need Surgery?

The decision for surgery is not always easy and adequate time will be offered to ensure you understand what is involved. Occasionally I ask patients to see my Hand therapist before surgery to discuss the rehabilitation post operatively if particularly involved. Once you have decided on surgery you will be consented for the operation and an OPCS code given. A suitable date will be decided in clinic or arranged with one of my secretaries.

What is Consent?

Consent is a very important part of the surgical process. It is the process in which the patient and surgeon have the opportunity to discuss the planned surgery in detail and be fully aware of the risks and benefits. It is usually performed in the outpatient department at the time of initial consultation. A signed document outlining the procedure, risks and benefits is filed in the notes and a copy is retained for the patient.

What is the OPCS code that my insurer asked me to obtain?

The OPCS code will represent a particular operation. It will consist of a capital letter followed by four numbers. For example a carpal tunnel decompression operation will have the OPCS code A6510. Your surgeon should be able to give you the code once a decision has been made to perform surgery. Occasionally multiple OPCS codes are required for one operation and this would represent two or more different procedures being performed in the one operation. Once you have been given the OPCS code you should inform your insurance company to obtain authorisation.

What are Day Case, In-Patient and Theatre Out-Patient?

These terms describe the amount of time spent in the hospital.

A Day case operation is performed and the patient is allowed home on the same day. The patient is usually given a private room or day case cubicle.

An In-patient is kept in overnight following surgery. This may be for a variety of reasons such as co-existing medical conditions, social circumstances, more careful observation required etc.

A theatre out -patient is a type of fast track day case. The patient is not given their own room or cubicle. They arrive at reception and are taken straight up to the operating room when the surgeon is ready. Valuables are placed in a locker. This proves to be a very popular method with self pay patients who are having walk in walk out type surgery.

What should I bring with me on the day of the operation?

The level of surgery and length of stay may dictate what you should bring. All patients may require to wait a few hours before the operation. It is advisable to bring a book or lap top to help pass this time. Newspapers will be provided. We would recommend a pair of slippers and bathrobe. Patients staying overnight may wish to bring wash bags and toiletries.

Local , General or Regional anaesthetic?

Local anaesthetic involves injecting a solution around where the operation is to be performed, whilst you are entirely awake. It is usually injected in the operating room. The area takes 5-10 minutes to become numb. The surgeon will not start the operation until satisfied the anaesthetic has worked.

Regional anaesthetic (Blocks) involves injecting the same solution in the neck or arm pit to anaesthetise the whole arm whilst the patient is still awake. This usually takes 30—40 minutes.

General anaesthetic involves putting the patient to sleep for the duration of the operation. At the end of the operation either local anaesthetic is injected into the wound to provide post operative pain relief or the anaesthetist has performed a block.

Who will do my operation?

Mr Mike Hayton would perform all private operations. Occasionally for complex cases he is assisted by another experienced surgeon. There will be no extra costs incurred if an additional surgical assistant is required.

Who will I see after my operation?

Mr Mike Hayton will check that you are comfortable and in a satisfactory condition to leave the hospital. You will be followed up in the outpatients department either by a nurse, a hand therapist or by Mike. If there is a simple bandage this is reduced after 2 days by the nurse clinic. Patients may be seen for mobilisation or splinting by Rachel Delaney my hand therapist in the first week. Mike Hayton usually likes to see his patients at day 10-14 to remove non dissolvable stitches.

What if things go wrong?

Complications are fortunately quite rare in hand and wrist surgery. However they still can occur. The close post operative attention that you will receive from the nurses, hand therapist and Mike Hayton would hopefully identify and problems early so that they can be rectified. You are free to call Mike at any time through the main hospital telephone for genuine emergency problems. Calls of a non urgent nature should be made during office hours with one of my secretaries.