Your first visit, step by step.

Before you arrive

Once you’ve booked — online, by phone, or in person — you’ll get a confirmation email and a text message. Both include the date and time of your appointment, the clinician’s name, and our address.

If you booked a service that involves any preparation (a fasting blood test, for example), the booking confirmation will tell you. If you’re unsure, please call us — better to ask than to arrive and find out the appointment can’t go ahead.

What to bring

• Photo ID — a passport, driving licence or national ID. We are required to verify identity for most appointments, especially anything involving medication, controlled drugs, or formal medical letters.
• A list of your current medications — including supplements, vitamins, herbal remedies and anything bought over the counter. If you take a lot, just photograph the labels with your phone.
• Insurance details if you’re claiming through PMI — including pre-authorisation number if your insurer requires one (Bupa and AXA usually do)
• Previous medical records or letters, if relevant. Especially useful if you’re transferring care from another clinic or hospital.
• Glasses, hearing aids, walking aids — whatever you normally use day-to-day.
• Your phone — you may want to take notes, and we sometimes share information via email or text during the consultation.

What you don’t need to bring

• An NHS referral — we’re a private clinic, no referral required
• A urine sample or fasting state — unless we’ve specifically told you
• Anyone else, unless you want to (you’re welcome to bring a friend, partner or family member to any appointment)

Finding us

We’re at 97-99 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DT — directly opposite The Royal London Hospital, on the ground floor.

• Tube/Overground: Whitechapel station (Elizabeth Line, District Line, Hammersmith & City Line, London Overground) is a 2-minute walk.
• Bus: 25, 205, 254 and others stop directly outside.
• Car: Parking is very limited in Whitechapel. Public transport is much easier. If you must drive, on-street parking has time limits. Good news: we are outside the Congestion Charge zone, so there is no charge to reach us (the clinic is inside the ULEZ).
• Step-free access: Yes, ground-floor entrance from the street.

We recommend arriving 10 minutes before your appointment so you have time to fill in any registration paperwork without feeling rushed.

When you arrive

Walk in, let reception know your name and the clinician you’re seeing. They will:

• Confirm your details and check your ID
• Ask you to complete a short new-patient form (the first time only) covering your medical history, current medications, allergies, and contact details — you can also do this online in advance if you prefer
• Take payment at the start if you’re self-paying, or pre-authorisation details if you’re insured
• Show you to the waiting area or directly to the consulting room

The waiting area is quiet, with seating, free Wi-Fi, and water. If you find waiting rooms difficult, please tell reception — we have a quiet space available.

The consultation itself

What happens depends on the service you’ve booked, but most consultations follow the same broad shape:

1. Introduction — your clinician will introduce themselves, explain their role, and ask what brought you in today.
2. Your story — this is the longest part. Your clinician will listen and ask questions about your symptoms, history, lifestyle, family history and current treatments. Speak freely — the more they know, the better they can help.
3. Examination — if relevant. You’ll be told what’s involved, asked for consent, and offered a chaperone (this is a trained member of clinic staff who can be present for any examination — free of charge, no questions asked. Read our Chaperone Policy).
4. Tests if needed — blood tests, ECG, ultrasound or other investigations can often be done in clinic or arranged immediately.
5. Discussion — your clinician will explain what they think is going on and discuss the options. Ask anything. There are no silly questions.
6. Plan — you’ll leave with a clear written plan: medications, follow-up, referrals or further tests as appropriate. We send a summary to your NHS GP with your consent.

How long does it take?

Standard private GP consultations are 30 minutes. Specialist consultations and weight management appointments are 45 minutes. Allow extra time for blood tests or other investigations — usually 15-20 minutes more.

Can I bring someone with me?

Absolutely. A partner, friend, family member or carer is welcome. For intimate examinations, we will always also offer a trained clinic chaperone in addition.

After the appointment

You leave with:

• A written summary of the consultation, by email or printed if you prefer
• Any treatments issued during the appointment
• Test request forms if needed (typically The Doctors Laboratory or our in-clinic labs)
• Referral letters if you’re being seen by a specialist next
• A clear next step — whether that’s a follow-up, a result, or simply “come back if X happens”

Most blood test results are back within 24-48 hours. We’ll contact you with the results and any actions needed, by phone or via the patient portal.

Will my NHS GP know I’ve been seen?

Only if you give consent. With consent, we send a brief letter to your NHS GP so your full medical record stays joined up. This is best practice and we encourage it — but it’s your choice.

Paying

We accept:

• Visa, Mastercard, American Express (chip & PIN, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• Bank transfer (in advance, by arrangement)
• Cash (we’d rather not, but we’ll accept it)
• Major UK health insurers — Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, WPA. Please confirm cover with your insurer before booking.

Payment is typically taken at the start of the appointment for self-pay patients. Insurance patients should bring their pre-authorisation code.

All current prices are on our Fees page. Test costs are quoted before any blood is taken.

If you need to cancel or reschedule

Life happens. To change your appointment, please give us as much notice as you can:

• More than 48 hours’ notice — no charge, freely reschedulable.
• Less than 48 hours’ notice or no-show — a cancellation fee may apply (varies by service; you’ll be told at booking). Same-day bookings are exempt from late-cancellation fees.

See our Cancellation Policy for full details, exemptions, and the exceptional-circumstances waiver.

The easiest way to reschedule is through the link in your confirmation email. Otherwise call us on 020 7916 0029 or message us on WhatsApp.

FAQs

Do I need to register before booking?

You can register online in advance (it speeds up your first visit) or fill in the new-patient form when you arrive. Either is fine.

What if I’m not registered with an NHS GP?

That’s fine — we don’t require it. But registering with an NHS GP is in your interest for long-term care, vaccinations, and access to NHS services. We can advise on the local NHS practices in Tower Hamlets if helpful.

What if English isn’t my first language?

Several of our clinicians and reception team speak languages other than English — please ask at booking. We can also arrange a telephone interpreter at no charge for most languages.

What if I’m nervous about seeing a doctor?

Tell us at booking and on arrival. We’ll make sure you’re looked after — longer appointment time, the quiet space, a trusted person with you, written information to take home. There is no judgement at this clinic.

What about my privacy?

Everything you tell us is confidential, with very limited exceptions (life-threatening situations, court orders, safeguarding). We’ll discuss confidentiality with you in the consultation if relevant. Read our Privacy Policy for full detail.

Can I see the same clinician next time?

Yes — continuity of care matters and we encourage it. When you book follow-ups, just request the same person. Their availability is shown when you book online.