If you ring the Saxon Clinic, or your insurance company, to arrange an appointment, you are likely to be put through to the BMI call centre, who will arrange an appointment for you.   The availability of options for your appointment is much wider if you book directly with the secretaries at Milton Keynes Orthopaedics office – Karen and Zoe, on 01908 668148. If the secretaries are engaged on another call, or unable to answer, please leave a name and number and they will return your call as soon as possible.

The overall responsibility for payment of any fees lies with a patient, as any contract is between Mr. Flynn and a patient. Many individuals have Private Medical Insurance (PMI), which covers the cost of private treatment to certain levels. Most insurance companies will issue an authorisation number to patients, once referred by a GP, to confirm they have agreed to cover all, or some, of a treatment. Increasingly, insurance companies may have ‘in-house’ assessors who can give authorisation without a GP referral. If a patient attends a consultation, or receives treatment, prior to obtaining an authorisation number, their insurance company may not agree to cover the cost of that consultation or treatment, and the costs are, therefore, the direct responsibility of the patient.

All consultation fees have been agreed and approved to be fully covered by all major insurance companies. (Insurance excess notwithstanding).

Most insurance companies will have an excess policy for which an individual, as a patient, is liable, and expected to pay in each insured year that you make a claim. The excess payment will be determined by your insurance company and may need to be paid for an investigation, consultation, treatment or operation, but is generally payable only once a year. An excess payment is usually additional to any treatment that an insurance company deems they will not cover.

Over recent years, insurance premiums have risen by around 7% per year. Hospital fees have risen similarly. However, operative fees for surgical procedures have previously remained relatively static for approximately 20 years, until recently. A number of insurance companies have now reduced the fees they will pay towards surgical fees, some by as much as 45 % reduction. Mr Flynn’s surgical fee charges are broadly in line with rates allowed by WPA insurance company. Some procedures with some insurance companies are liable to a small shortfall. If this were likely to apply, then the position would be discussed with you in clinic and any liability made specifically clear. Please read the attached link for further clarification, and please do not hesitate to ask if a shortfall might apply.

During assessment and identifying the most appropriate treatment, investigations maybe necessary. Any investigations will be billed separately by the providing department. You should check with your insurance company that any required investigations, are covered under your insurance scheme.

Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of braces / insoles or shoe modifications if these are necessary.

Return to driving depends on the specific procedure performed, and whether you have an automatic car with left leg surgery for example.

Following a total joint replacement, driving maybe resumed, as a general rule, around 6 weeks postoperatively. You should inform your insurance company that you have had surgery, and prior to driving on open roads , sit in your car and practice controlling the pedals , ensuring that it is not painful and you have sufficient strength and stamina to undertake a short drive to start with. Please look at the overviews of each procedure for more specific recommendations.

Crutches are used to protect a limb or joint, to reduce pain on weight-bearing, reduce the risk of a leg giving way if muscles are weak post-operatively and reduce swelling and improve recovery in the longer term. Not all operations on the lower limb require the use of crutches. The length of time you may need to use crutches is suggested in the overview of each procedure.

Flying :

To minimize the risk of blood clots and ensure a safe post-surgery travel experience, consider the following strategies:

There are no set rules on when it is safe to fly following surgery.

We would advise against any long-haul flights within 3 months of more major surgery (especially joint replacements), due to the increased risks of DVT and Pulmonary Embolism. When you do fly, it is important to keep as mobile as you can on the flight, stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol and use compression “flight” stockings.

Most airlines will not allow you to fly if you have a full cast in place – due to potential problems with swelling and excess pressure that may arise.

Compression Stockings: Wearing compression stockings can support circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots.

Medication: Continue taking any prescribed medications, such as aspirin or other blood thinners, to prevent blood clots as advised by your doctor.

Stay Active: Engage in light activity during your travels. This includes stretching, walking in the aisle of the plane, or making frequent stops to walk if traveling by car every one to two hours.

Calf Exercises: Perform calf squeezes and ankle pumps regularly to keep blood circulating in your legs.

Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids, like water and juice, to stay hydrated. Avoid drinks that can dehydrate you, such as coffee and alcohol.

It is advisable to consult your airline and travel insurance company directly if you have any concerns.