How much does a private GP cost?

Private GP consultations at our Whitechapel clinic start from £59, with transparent pricing and no hidden costs. Full pricing for every service — 96 published prices — including blood tests, ultrasound, ADHD assessments and specialist consultations is listed on our fees page.

Do I need a GP referral?

No referral needed for most appointments — you can book directly with a private GP, ultrasound, blood tests or many of our specialist services. A small number of consultant clinics prefer a referral letter, which our GPs can issue same-day if needed.

How quickly can I be seen?

Most private GP appointments are available the same day, including evenings and weekends. We're open seven days a week 9am–7pm at our Whitechapel clinic, serving patients across East London, the City of London, Aldgate and Liverpool Street.

Do you accept private medical insurance?

Many appointments are self-pay with an itemised invoice you can submit to Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva or Cigna for reimbursement where applicable. Please contact our reception team to confirm your specific insurance arrangement before booking.

Where exactly are you located?

We're at 97-99 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DT, in East London. Aldgate East is the closest station, just a few minutes' walk away. Whitechapel station (Elizabeth, District & Hammersmith & City lines and the Overground) and Liverpool Street are also nearby — a short journey from the City of London. Multiple bus routes stop directly outside.

What services do you offer?

Our Whitechapel clinic offers private GP, urgent care, health MOTs, ADHD assessments, ultrasound, cardiology, ENT, dermatology, aesthetics, hair transplants, women's and men's health, plus the full published price list.

Musculoskeletal · Scans & Imaging · In house · Radiologist-led

Ultrasound-guided joint injections.

Injections placed with live ultrasound guidance for precise, accurate needle placement — carried out in house by a specialist radiologist, with the scan and the injection done together in a single visit.

Book a consultation See the advantages

Educational information — not a substitute for clinical assessment

This page explains ultrasound-guided joint injections in general terms. Whether an injection is right for you, and which structure to target, is decided at consultation after assessment.

On this page

What it is
Advantages
What can be treated
What to expect
Aftercare
FAQs

What ultrasound-guided joint injections are

An ultrasound-guided joint injection uses live ultrasound imaging to place the needle precisely where it needs to go — into a joint, tendon sheath or bursa. Instead of relying on surface landmarks alone, the clinician watches the needle in real time on the screen and confirms it is in exactly the right place before the injection is given.

At Tower Bridge Hospital London, the ultrasound is carried out in house by a specialist radiologist, so your scan and your injection happen together, in one appointment.

The advantages of ultrasound guidance

Greater accuracy. Real-time imaging lets the clinician see the target and the needle together, so the injection reaches the intended structure rather than the area around it. Guided injections are consistently more accurate than injections placed by feel alone.
Better results from a well-placed injection. When the injection reaches exactly the right spot, it has the best chance of doing its job — accurate placement is one of the biggest factors in how well an injection works.
Improved safety. Ultrasound shows nearby nerves, blood vessels and tendons, so they can be seen and avoided during the procedure.
Fewer attempts, more comfort. Seeing the needle in real time usually means the target is reached first time, which tends to make the procedure quicker and more comfortable.
Diagnosis and treatment in one visit. The same scan that guides the injection also lets the radiologist assess the joint or soft tissue, so you often get answers and treatment together.
No radiation. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not X-rays, so there is no radiation exposure.
Performed by a specialist radiologist, in house. The person interpreting the images and guiding the needle is an imaging specialist, on site, using the clinic’s own equipment.

What can be treated

Ultrasound guidance is useful across a wide range of joints and soft-tissue structures, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist and small joints of the hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot, as well as tendon sheaths and bursae. Whether it is appropriate for you is decided at assessment.

What to expect

The area is scanned with ultrasound first. Once the target is identified, the skin is cleaned, and the injection is carried out under live imaging so the needle position is confirmed throughout. Most appointments take around 20–30 minutes, and you can usually return to normal activities the same day, following any advice you are given.

Aftercare

Some mild soreness at the injection site for a day or two is normal. You will be given personalised aftercare advice, including when to rest and when to resume activity. If anything concerns you afterwards, you can contact the clinic.

Frequently asked questions

Why choose an ultrasound-guided injection over a standard one?

Because the needle is placed under live imaging, guided injections reach the intended target more reliably than injections placed by feel alone — which improves both accuracy and the chance of a good result, while helping to avoid nearby structures.

Who performs the injection?

A specialist radiologist on the GMC Specialist Register performs both the ultrasound scan and the guided injection in house, so imaging and treatment happen in one visit.

Does it involve radiation?

No. The guidance uses ultrasound (sound waves), so there is no radiation exposure.

Does it hurt?

Most people find it very tolerable. Because the needle is guided precisely, the target is usually reached quickly, which tends to make the procedure more comfortable.

How long does it take?

A typical appointment takes around 20 to 30 minutes, including the scan and the injection.

Will I get results from the scan too?

Often, yes. The same ultrasound used to guide the injection also allows the radiologist to assess the joint or soft tissue, so diagnosis and treatment can happen together.

Your care at the clinic

Who performs your injection

Your ultrasound scan and guided injection are carried out in house by a specialist radiologist, with Dr Haydar Bolat as Clinical Director.

Specialist Radiologist · GMC 7138474

Dr Kemal Ismail Kemal

Specialist radiologist on the GMC Specialist Register. He performs the ultrasound scan and the guided injection himself, in house, so the diagnosis and treatment happen in one visit. He studied medicine at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, trained in surgery (MRCS) with a focus on vascular surgery, then completed specialist radiology training in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex deanery, achieving FRCR and an MSc in Surgical Sciences from the University of Edinburgh.

Editorial review

This page was reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat, Clinical Director at Tower Bridge Hospital London. Content is based on general musculoskeletal and radiology guidance on image-guided injection. Educational information only; it is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

Considering a joint injection?

Book a consultation to find out whether an ultrasound-guided injection is right for you — scan and treatment in one in-house visit with a specialist radiologist.

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