Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely.

If you have a problem that you think can be helped with treatment, feel free to give us a call. After discussing with you the specific problem you present with, we can give you a better idea if it is something we can help with.

We work closely with our medical colleagues and regularly receive referrals from a variety of GP’s, Consultants, Practice Nurses, Health visitors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and other health professionals. So, particularly if it’s someone based in Bedfordshire, there’s a good chance that when you visit them for advice, you’ll find that we’re already used to working with them.

Often your GP or Consultant will give you a recommendation. If you have private health care, the company may guide you with regard to who is recognised by your insurance plan.

Ultimately, however, although the decision as to where you receive your care is up to you, we are always happy to guide you regarding which therapist and/or treatment would be best for you.

You will be greeted in reception by our receptionist and asked to sign Woodside Clinic’s consent form.

When you meet your Practitioner, he/she will take a detailed case history to determine what problems you have that can be addressed by us. This case history involves a thorough history of your specific and general medical complaints.

Your therapist will then examine you (which may include a variety of clinical tests and checks), following which your Practitioner will form an opinion as to cause of the specific problems you present with. A treatment programme will be developed, aimed at resolving the problem(s) that have been identified and helping you to look forward to a good recovery – all in conjunction with what you decide that you want!

If you’re ever unsure of anything, do ask!

In general, wear comfortable clothing for treatment that do not restrict movement.

As with any medical examination, you will may be asked to undress to your underwear so that your therapist can examine not only the problem area, but also adjacent joints and muscles, so please wear something you are comfortable in. You can of course bring whatever you would like to wear (e.g. shorts) with you if you need to change.

During your first few visits, your therapist is likely to perform a detailed evaluation. This not only helps in assessing your complaint, but also enables us to keep a check on how things progress.

However, the key ‘barometer’ is you!

We generally expect most patients to feel a significant improvement within the first treatment or two, and certainly after three or four visits. If this is not the case we will discuss how we consider it would be best to proceed.

Letters or reports for GPs or consultants may incur a charge and can take up to 10 working days to process.

If a problem recurs after your discharge from treatment, we’re always happy to help. Although this isn’t common, it does occur, especially if, for example, you’ve suffered several episodes of back pain in the past and have an underlying weakness (especially if you don’t do the exercises we’ve given you!).

If we have any concerns regarding the need for further investigations and/or onward referral, we will of course let you know.

You are our partner in your recovery. Your Practitioner needs you to be involved too!

Please turn up to your appointments on time and suitably dressed.

We ask that all patients cooperate by following through with their home exercise programs and instructions, as this is extremely important in helping your recovery.

In the unusual event that you suffer an increase in symptoms, please call us. When you do, please be sure you explain to the staff that you are having an increase in symptoms. The staff will get out your medical notes and ensure that your therapist (or another senior clinician) contacts you. After we discuss the case with you, we will be able to give you guidelines as to what would be appropriate to reduce your symptoms, whether you need to come into us, or if you should contact or follow-up with your physician.

A common cause of an increase in symptoms can be being over-enthusiastic after you’ve been seen! So if you decided to mow the lawn or paint your bedroom the evening after your treatment, do let us know, it’s probably rather relevant!

Either way, it’s generally best to call us prior to calling your GP, because if a change in symptoms has occurred, we have access to your treatment records and the way your case is progressing, so we usually have the best information to help you and/or to provide up-to-date information to the GP.

Yes, all our practitioners are fully qualified and have full membership with his/her profession’s main governing body.

We also have a considerable commitment to continued in-house professional development, with case reviews and ‘best practice’ discussions.

Simply call the clinic nearest to you for an appointment. You can contact us for an appointment with or without a referral.

Our clinic hours and locations are explained on the “how to find us” page of this website.

Our office staff will be happy to help you, provide you with all the necessary information and assist you in making an appointment.

Please do not email the clinic to make, alter or cancel an appointment as emails cannot always be checked regularly.

In general, treatment should be accessed as early as possible. Initiating treatment early on, will usually reduce the overall treatment time you may require and not allow the problem to become chronic (ie. established or ‘long term’).

Whether or not you’re in pain and/or you are in an acute state, our approach will be adapted according to your signs and symptoms. What is done for you in treatment depends on the clinical stage you are presenting in, not just the diagnosis. So your care will be modified according to the signs and symptoms during the acute, subacute, and chronic phases of your problem.

In general, our clinical therapies take up to about 30 minutes.

On the first treatment, the visit will consist of an evaluation before any treatment takes place. Holistic therapies and Pilates visits often last longer.

For your first visit, you will need details of any medication you are currently taking and any paperwork that has been sent to you that needs to be filled out.

If you have any operative reports, MRI or X-ray results and/or pictures, it is helpful if you bring those as well. Please also bring any braces, splints or crutches that you are using.

You’ll also need to bring your private health insurance details if you’re claiming costs back in this way.

Many patients feel that analgesics ‘deaden their symptoms’ and make our job more difficult. However our Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Acupuncturists are all experienced in the process of patient assessment, so if you’ve been prescribed pain relieving drugs, it should not preclude an effective diagnosis and treatment.

It is however, always useful to bring along details of the drugs you’ve been prescribed, as it will help us assess how much pain may have been ‘deadened’!

NB. The same is not true of alcohol – it might help deaden pain but it also dulls the ability to describe a condition properly!

This varies from patient to patient and according to the condition(s) with which you visit us.

Generally speaking however, we expect most patients to be feeling significant benefits after just one or two visits, and if we can help we would certainly normally expect an improvement within the first three or four visits.

A course of treatment can therefore be anything from one or two visits (in most cases) to a maximum of five or six visits. Naturally, really severe complaints take longer but we’ll keep you informed regarding the needs of your specific case.

There are times when we find that we’re unable to help, in which case you may only require one visit and we’ll endeavour to find the best alternative solution for you.

Although all insurance companies do cover the majority of our treatments, what they specifically cover varies greatly. Our Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, podiatrists and Acupuncturists are, between them, recognised by all major health insurance providers including AXA-PPP, Norwich Union, Vitality Health, Simply Health and BUPA. You are always advised to check with your private health care provider first to see if they will cover the treatment you are having and the extent of your cover. If you have additional questions regarding your specific insurance, give us a call.

Nb. You may have an ‘excess’ which means that you’ll be due to pay the first, for example, £100 of your claim. This is often not the case although we do suggest you discuss this with your health insurance provider.

The goal at our practices is to resolve your problem completely so you do not require continual follow-up or maintenance care.

There are some patients and conditions which may well require follow-up care or re-assessment on a periodic basis. If this is the case for you, it will be discussed with you once you are in treatment or at discharge.

We ask that our patients:

• Please give 24 hours notice (excluding weekends), when possible, for cancellations. All of our practices utilise an answering machine when there are no receptionists available. Please call to cancel your appointments and not use email.
• Cancelling appointments with less than 24 hours (excluding weekends) notice may be charged 50% of the fee.
• DNAs will be charged full fee.
• Call if you have a question or a concern, or if you will be late. We will do our best to fit you in, but we need to know in advance for consideration of other patients.
• Please arrive on time.
• Notify your Practitioner at least one week prior to returning to your GP. The Practitioner will need this date should he/she need to re-assess you and update your GP on your progress.
• If you have joined a Pilates or Yoga group session, the block of 6 is for a particular class and cannot be swapped or refunded if you are unable to attend.

Please note that:

• If you have requested your medical records, it may take up to 30 days from the time we receive your fully completed form and 2 forms of ID.
• Reports or letters may incur extra charges.