Policies
Aftercare
After any injection, you may feel some minimal pain once the local anaesthetic wears off within a few hours. The pain should settle with paracetamol. If there is a significantly increased pain, swelling or heat within 48 hours of the injection, this could be a sign of infection or bleeding into the joint, and you should attend A+E immediately (this is very rare and I’ve never had this occur in my practice).
You will be requested to fill out a feedback form. Please be aware this is so our practice can maintain a good standard, but the form should not be used in the expectation of medical action as they may only be seen several weeks later. Please attend your usual GP regarding any other concerns after the injection if needed. You can have a repeat steroid injection into that joint after 3 calendar months at the earliest (for medical safety reasons).
GP Service not offered, just steroid joint injections
We are not a GP service and cannot sort out issues unrelated to joint injections. If you are booked for a joint injection but it isn’t deemed safe/appropriate to inject that day or at all, then it is at the practice’s discretion regarding whether a refund/partial refund is due. We have outlined on the website and booking process about what we can and can’t inject and that you should have a diagnosed condition for the area that you require injecting. This diagnosis should come from an orthopaedic surgeon, GP or physio.
Delays
Due to the nature of running medical services being sometimes unpredictable, we may sometimes run late. The practice shall not be liable for any fees (parking or otherwise) incurred due to such delays.
We work approximately 40 Mondays annually, and for most of the time therefore can offer an appointment within 1 week. We will endeavour to cap our practice list accordingly. We will not be liable for any delays in access.
We will not be liable for any delays to joint replacement operations. You shouldn’t have a joint injection into that joint within 4-6 months prior to the replacement dependent on the surgeon. This is to reduce the infection rate with replacement surgery. If you are considering this, I would recommend that you speak to the orthopaedic secretary to gauge where you are on the waiting list.
Cancellation fees
Incurred at the following rates:
25% of the consultation fee if cancelled within 48 hours of the appointment, rising to
50% within 24 hours and 100% on the day (from midnight). Email contact is provided for this purpose. Alterations to bookings will additionally incur an administration charge of £25.
