Initial consultation
Your journey with Sulis Hospital begins with an initial consultation. It’s likely to take between 10 and 45 minutes, depending on the consultant and the speciality.
During your appointment, you’ll talk to our specialists about your symptoms, medical history, and any previous treatments. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, and by the end of your visit, you’ll have a clear understanding of the next steps in your care plan.
Next steps
When your treatment is booked, you’ll receive an appointment letter. Make sure you read the letter thoroughly, as it contains important information on what you need to do to prepare. For example, some patients may need to fast before their treatment.
We’ll also send you a health questionnaire. Please complete and return it as soon as possible using the provided self-addressed stamped envelope.
After we receive your completed questionnaire, our nursing team will review it to check if any additional tests are needed before your procedure. If necessary, we may arrange a further assessment by phone or in person, and we’ll contact you to schedule this.
FAQs
To help you feel prepared, we’ve put together a list of answers to common questions about the initial consultation. If there's anything else you'd like to know, our friendly patient enquiry team will be happy to help. You can call them on 01761 422 288 or fill in the form on our enquiry page.
Yes, there is a free car park located directly in front of the hospital.
Find our address and directions on our How to find us page
Yes, if you’re funding your treatment privately, you can book an appointment directly with your chosen consultant – you don’t need a referral from your GP. However, some consultants may prefer to have a referral as it provides important details about your condition and medical history.
If you’re covered by private medical insurance, we recommend checking with your provider first, as a GP referral may be required. Once you have approval from your insurer, you can contact us to schedule your appointment.
If you’re not sure which specialist is right for you, we offer a Private GP Service to help.
Yes, it’s often possible to switch to private care after seeing an NHS specialist.
For self-funded treatment enquiries, please contact us to discuss the cost of your treatment and the process of moving from NHS to private care. In some cases, NHS consultants also practice privately at Sulis Hospital. This may allow you to continue seeing the same specialist.
If you’re covered by insurance, whether you can switch depends on your policy. It may be that you need a new referral, or you may be able to continue treatment with the same consultant. You’d need to contact your insurer for authorisation, and to contact us to discuss your options.
This will depend on the individual consultant and the speciality but usually an initial consultation will take between 10 and 45 minutes.
On the Day of Your Treatment
Find out what to expect on the day of your treatment.
Aftercare
Learn about the aftercare you can expect from Sulis Hospital.