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GP · Giant cell arteritis · Private clinic in East London

Private giant cell arteritis clinic in London, same-day GP.

Giant cell arteritis is inflammation of medium-sized arteries, typically those supplying the scalp and the eye. It occurs almost exclusively over the age of 50. Untreated it can cause sudden, permanent blindness — and once sight is lost it does not come back. Treated promptly, that outcome is almost always avoided. Our private GP clinic in East London offers same-day giant cell arteritis assessment with a private GP, diagnosis and a clear treatment plan — usually without a referral and often the same day.

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The condition

What is giant cell arteritis?

Giant cell arteritis is inflammation of medium-sized arteries, typically those supplying the scalp and the eye. It occurs almost exclusively over the age of 50. Untreated it can cause sudden, permanent blindness — and once sight is lost it does not come back. Treated promptly, that outcome is almost always avoided.

  • What giant cell arteritis is
  • Symptoms to look for
  • Causes & risk factors
  • Tests & diagnosis
  • Treatment options
  • When to see a specialist

Understanding giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis: symptoms, causes, tests & treatment

Seek same-day assessment if you are over 50 with

  • a new headache, usually one-sided and around the temple
  • scalp tenderness — pain combing your hair or resting your head on a pillow
  • jaw ache or tiredness when chewing that eases when you stop
  • any change in vision, blurring, double vision or a curtain across your sight
  • a tender, thickened or pulseless artery at the temple
  • these symptoms alongside shoulder and hip girdle stiffness, fever or weight loss

Sudden visual loss is an emergency — go straight to an eye casualty or an emergency department. If sight is affected in one eye, the other is at risk within days without treatment. Steroid treatment is started immediately on clinical suspicion, before any test results, because waiting is what causes blindness. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.

Why it is urgent

Inflammation narrows the arteries that supply the optic nerve. When one occludes, vision in that eye is lost suddenly and permanently, often without warning. Around a fifth of untreated people lose sight in one or both eyes. High-dose steroids started promptly reduce that risk dramatically, which is why treatment begins on suspicion rather than on confirmation.

The typical picture

  • almost always over 50, and commoner over 70 and in women
  • a headache different from any you have had before, often persistent and around one temple
  • jaw claudication — aching in the jaw muscles on chewing — is the most specific symptom there is
  • scalp tenderness, sometimes with a tender ropey artery you can feel
  • fever, night sweats, weight loss, and profound fatigue
  • in around half of cases, the shoulder and hip stiffness of polymyalgia rheumatica

Diagnosis

Blood tests showing raised inflammatory markers support the diagnosis but do not confirm it, and are occasionally normal. Confirmation is by temporal artery ultrasound or biopsy, ideally within a week of starting steroids — treatment should never be delayed for the test.

Treatment

  • High-dose steroids, started immediately. Symptoms usually improve within 24 to 72 hours, which is itself a useful diagnostic sign.
  • The dose is reduced gradually over 12 to 24 months. Flares are common if it is reduced too quickly.
  • Do not stop steroids suddenly — this is dangerous. Carry a steroid card.
  • Bone protection and monitoring for steroid side effects — blood pressure, glucose, weight, mood, cataracts — are part of proper care, not extras.
  • Steroid-sparing treatments are used where the dose cannot be reduced or side effects are unmanageable.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

PMR causes severe stiffness and pain in the shoulders, neck and hips, at its worst in the morning and often making it hard to get out of bed or lift the arms. It responds dramatically to a much lower dose of steroid. It overlaps with giant cell arteritis, so anyone with PMR should know the headache and visual warning signs and act on them the same day.

This is one to be seen for quickly, and we can do that. We offer same-day appointments Monday to Saturday, with inflammatory markers and full blood tests taken in-house and results explained by a clinician, ultrasound performed on site, and rapid onward referral where a biopsy or specialist rheumatology input is needed. If you are over 50 with a new headache, jaw ache on chewing or scalp tenderness, do not wait for a routine appointment elsewhere.

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Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most appointments.

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Private assessment

See a private GP for giant cell arteritis in London

At our private GP clinic on Whitechapel Road in East London, you can see a private GP or giant cell arteritis doctor without a referral — most days, often the same day. A private GP in East London or consultant GP will assess you, arrange the right tests and explain your diagnosis and treatment options clearly. We help patients across East London, Canary Wharf, the City, Docklands and Aldgate who want fast, private answers about giant cell arteritis.

Book a private giant cell arteritis assessment

Local, private, fast

A private GP clinic for East London & Canary Wharf

Tower Bridge Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in the heart of East London — minutes from Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands and Aldgate. Patients across Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse and Bethnal Green choose us for a fast, private giant cell arteritis appointment with a GP, without the wait or the referral.

Why choose us

Why choose our East London private GP clinic

  • Same-day, no referral — private GP and GP under one roof
  • Specialist-led care with GMC-registered clinicians
  • Tests & scans on site, results explained the same visit
  • Minutes from Canary Wharf & the City of London
  • A named clinician who explains your results clearly
  • Transparent pricing and a plan you can act on

Ready when you are

See a private GP for giant cell arteritis — the same day.

Book a private giant cell arteritis assessment in East London: same-day appointments, GP-led care and a clear plan. No referral needed.

Book same-day appointment 020 7916 0029

Common questions

Giant cell arteritis in London: your questions answered

Where can I find a private giant cell arteritis specialist near me in East London?

Our private GP clinic is on Whitechapel Road in East London, minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. You can see a private GP or giant cell arteritis doctor for assessment and treatment, usually the same day and without a referral.

Can I see a private GP for giant cell arteritis the same day?

Yes. We hold same-day private appointments most days, including Saturdays, so you can be assessed by a GP or GP quickly, with tests done in-house where possible.

How much does a private giant cell arteritis appointment cost in London?

We keep pricing transparent — see our fees page or call 020 7916 0029, and we will explain the cost of the giant cell arteritis assessment and any tests before you book.

Do I need a referral to see a private GP for giant cell arteritis?

No. You can book directly with our clinic. If you are unsure whether to start with a private GP or a GP, we will guide you.

Which areas do you serve for private giant cell arteritis care?

We see private patients from across East London, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands, Aldgate, Wapping, Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.

Medically reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat — Clinical Director, GMC 7138332. Last reviewed August 2026 · next review August 2027. Written in line with our editorial & content-review policy, using guidance from the NHS, NICE and the relevant royal colleges. This information is general and does not replace personal medical advice.

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Private GP
No referral

Private GP

Same-day GP to start your care.

Urgent Care
Same-day

Urgent Care

For acute problems today.

Private Blood Tests
Fast results

Private Blood Tests

Diagnostic blood tests, explained.

Scans & Imaging
Imaging

Scans & Imaging

Fast CT, MRI & ultrasound.

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In an emergency, call 999. Tower Bridge Hospital London is not an emergency service. Your nearest A&E is The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road E1 1FR — 5 minutes’ walk from our front door.

Areas we serve

Private giant cell arteritis care near you — Whitechapel, the City & Canary Wharf

Patients visit our Whitechapel clinic for private giant cell arteritis assessment and treatment from right across East London, the City and the Docklands — including Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Bow, Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Bermondsey and the surrounding areas. Same-day and walk-in appointments are available and you do not need a GP referral.

Easy to reach — minutes from the Royal London Hospital and Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations, and one stop from Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth line.

Private giant cell arteritis treatment near me? If you are searching for private giant cell arteritis treatment near me, a giant cell arteritis doctor or specialist near me, or a private clinic near me in East London, our Whitechapel practice is on your doorstep — walk-in and same-day appointments, no GP referral, and no long NHS waiting list.

Book a same-day appointment or call 020 7916 0029. See our transparent fees. Open Monday to Saturday. Private clinic on Whitechapel Road, London E1 — serving Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Islington, the City of London and Southwark.

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