Brentwood Hospital

Brentwood Hospital FAQs

• How do I get an appointment to see a consultant?
  You would need to see your GP (usually essential for insured patients), or one of our private GPs, who will then make a referral to see one of our consultants. For cosmetic surgery and weight loss surgery consultant appointments, seeing a GP first is not essential, but it is still recommended.
• How long would it take me to get an appointment?
  We aim to offer private patients an appointment within just a few days, at a time that works best for you. In some circumstances we can offer same day appointments.Our clinics offer flexible scheduling so you can choose appointment times that fit around your daily commitments.
• Can I choose which consultant I'd like to see?
  Yes, as a private patient you can choose your consultant . Your GP can send a referral to a specific consultant or an un-named referral to any of our consultants within a particular specialty.
• Would my surgery be conducted by a junior doctor?
  No, our hospital only works with consultants and therefore you can be assured of the highest level of clinical care. Your appointments, surgery and follow ups will be conducted by your consultant.
• Can I see a consultant after work or at the weekend?
  Our outpatient services operate from 08:00–21:00 Monday to Friday, and Saturday 08:00–17:00.
  
  If you've recently had surgery and your consultant needs to see you urgently, this will be arranged by our out-of-hours team. The hospital is open 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year for our patients’ convenience.
• What should I do if I can’t make my appointment?
  If you think you are going to miss your appointment please call us as soon as possible on 01277 695695.
• Is there parking?
  Free car parking is available at the hospital but this can be limited during peak times.
• What should I bring with me?
  If you are coming to Brentwood Hospital as a day case patient you might want to bring comfortable clothing and some personal toiletries. If you are going to be staying with us overnight or for a longer period then you should also bring nightwear.
  
  Please bring all your current medications (including homeopathic and herbal medicines) with you with the original packaging and labels. Please also bring sufficient medication to last you throughout your anticipated stay.
  
  You might also like to bring something to keep you entertained such as magazines, books, a tablet, laptop or knitting.
• Can I use my mobile phone in the hospital?
  Yes, as long as it does not disturb your treatment or the other patients.
• Can I access WiFi at the hospital?
  Yes, WiFi is available free of charge in all areas of the hospital.
• Do you cater for vegetarians?
  We cater for all dietary requirements including vegetarian and kosher choices and special diets such as gluten-free.
• When can my family visit if I'm an inpatient?
  Guests are welcome to visit you during your stay in hospital.
  
  To ensure safety and security, you may be escorted to you room at the time of admission by one relative or friend, who'll be asked to leave the ward once you go into theatre for your procedure.
  
  On return to the ward, you may have a maximum of two visitors at a time. We do encourage periods of no visiting, particularly mornings, to allow you to receive care and treatment as well as quiet time to rest and recover from your procedure.
  
  We request that visitors vacate the ward by 19:30pm.
  
  For Children and Young People (CYP) patients, a parent or guardian must accompany their child for the full duration of their stay with us.
  
  Any exceptions to visiting hours are at the discretion of the nurse in charge, ward manager, or Matron.
• What security measures do you have in place?
  All visitors to the ward may be asked to sign in and out of our visitor’s book at reception and they may be asked to sign in/out while they're on hospital premises.
  
  External CCTV is in operation at the hospital as an additional precaution.
  
  If you are aware of or suspect any threat to the hospital, please speak to reception as soon as possible.
• Can my family or visitors get anything to eat at the hospital?
  Your visitors are welcome to dine with you and can choose from our daily menu.
  
  Orders will be taken by the ward serving team and we would appreciate orders for hot meals/dinner by 15:00pm. Cold options are available throughout the day.
  
  Please note that visitor’s meals are chargeable and payment will be required by card when your order is taken.
• Is there accommodation nearby where my family can stay?
  Should your relatives or friends wish to stay locally, there are a number of hotels and bed and breakfasts that we can recommend to accommodate your visitors overnight. Please ask if any guidance is needed.
• What time is my operation?
  The time of your operation depends on a number of factors, such as how many patients your consultant has to see, and therefore we are unable to give you an exact time for surgery.
  
  While the time given in your admission letter is the time you need to arrive at the hospital, and not the time of your surgery, it is important that you arrive on time as your consultant and anaesthetist will want to visit you and our nurses will need to prepare you for surgery.
• Can I eat and drink before my operation?
  You may need to refrain from eating and/or drinking prior to your operation, but this will be detailed in your admission letter along with any other instructions such as needing x-rays or blood tests before coming into hospital.
• Do I have to remove my jewellery and piercings?
  Yes, all body piercings and other jewellery should be removed before you arrive at the hospital. Plain wedding bands may be worn but will need to be covered with tape during surgery. Before your operation, you will also need to remove any nail varnish, nail extensions and cosmetics.
• When can I go home?
  This is dependent on your recovery but your consultant or nurse will advise you how long you will need to stay in hospital for.
• Can you arrange taxis?
  If you or your visitors need taxi services, the reception team will be happy to arrange this for you.
• Can I spread the cost of my treatment?
  There are options to spread the cost of your treatment with Chrysalis, with offers of up to 24 months at 0% interest. Please contact 0333 323 2230 for more information, or use our finance calculator on the website.
• What charges can I expect if I am a self-paying patient?
  If you require any outpatient procedures or treatment, you may be charged separately by both your consultant and the hospital for the same procedure, as follows:
  
  

  • Consultation fee – direct from your consultant
  • Tests and examinations – from the hospital and consultant
  • Minor surgical procedures – from the hospital and consultant
  • Blood tests and/or histo-pathology – from the hospital
  • Diagnostic tests (eg X-rays, ultrasound scans) – from the hospital
  • Physiotherapy treatment (including crutches) – from the hospital
  • Prescriptions for drugs and any take-home medication – from the hospital.

  
  
  If you have any queries about the cost of any treatments or tests that your consultant has requested, please speak to a member of staff before going ahead with the treatment.
  
  Hospital invoices are due for payment immediately upon departure from the hospital. Consultant invoices will be sent to you separately from the consultant’s office.
• Why do I have to bring a credit or debit card to the hospital for it to be swiped?
  We will take a swipe of your debit or credit card when or before you arrive for your appointment or admission. We will record and securely store your card details and, in the event that you incur additional charges that are not covered by your insurance, employer or self-pay package, we may use these details to take payment. We accept all major credit cards.
  
  The way in which we store your card details complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which was developed by Visa, MasterCard and other credit card providers, protecting cardholder data from fraud. We will not use your stored card details if you do not incur any additional costs.
  
  If you do not have a debit or credit card, it's acceptable for a friend or a family member to store their card details on your behalf. We will not ask you for your card details every time you attend unless the stored card has either expired or if we stored your details more than 6 months ago.
  
  If you are insured, we will still ask for your card details as we may need them to pay for items not covered by your insurer. This may include items such as take-home drugs, phone calls, visitor meals, crutches and insurance excesses or shortfalls.
  
  Similarly, if you are a self-pay patient and have paid up-front for a self-pay package, we will still ask for your card details. This is because you may still incur additional charges not included in your package price. These may include items such as take-home drugs, visitor meals or further tests.
  
  We will give you a detailed statement showing any outstanding charges before we take payment. You will have a minimum of 10 days to query your bill and/or make payment. We may then use your stored card details to take the payment but we will send you confirmation in the post.
• If I have a procedure, will I be issued with a hospital and consultant invoice?
  Yes you will. The consultant charges for their consultation and also charges if any procedure has been performed. The hospital then charges for use of its equipment and any hospital services.
• Can you send my hospital invoice to my medical insurer?
  Yes we can, as long as we have your policy or membership number and also your authorisation number.
  
  Please note that if you have seen a consultant, they will also send you an invoice, which is separate and in addition to the hospital’s and you should forward this to your insurer too.
• Can I see a private GP?
  Yes, you can book appointments directly with us. You can also easily book an appointment online with our GPs, however you do need to call us for same day appointments.