Medical Treatment Fees
(including cancellation fees)
Overview
The following general notes are provided to give some guidance on the fee structure.
Please note, for those who are insured, patients should determine from their insurance company the extent of any likely shortfall.
For surgical procedures, each operation has a medical code. This will be provided by Mr Verity’s PA, with an estimate for surgery, and this information should be sent to the insurance company who will inform you of the total amount they are prepared to renumerate.
Please remember that the DH Verity Eye Practice is not employed or contracted by insurance companies. Payment of fees remains the responsibility of the patient, and shortfalls can vary considerably between insurers.
Unlike a number of providers, Mr Verity does not generally request payment before a service is rendered, but politely asks that all invoices are settled promptly.
(1) Outpatient fees:
New patients
1.1. New patient fees depend on the complexity of the case, and are generally £290, with a higher fee where more time is required to review scans, etc.
1.2. Thirty (+) minutes are allocated to new patients.
Follow up patients
1.3. Follow-up fees likewise reflect complexity of the case, being between £225 and £270.
1.4. Twenty to thirty minutes are allocated to follow up patients.
1.5. Any patient who has been discharged and not seen for at least a year and requires an appointment is seen on a new-patient basis.
Other outpatient fees
1.6 Occasionally certain tests are required (such as blood tests, visual fields, imaging, etc) and these fees are set by the provider(s).
1.7 Cancellation fees
Please note that, unless a sick note from a doctor can be provided, patients cancelling an appointment within 2 working days will be charged a cancellation fee equivalent to 50% of the appointment fee. This has become necessary in recent years both due to escalating fixed costs and the increasing numbers of patients who book an appointment, which is then confirmed, but who do not come to clinic, resulting in lost clinical time.
(2) Surgical fees – Overview
2.1 A wide range of surgical fees apply, reflecting the range of pathology and treatments available.
2.2 Overall surgical fees are formed of:
- The surgeon’s fee.
- The anaesthetist’s fee (typically in the region of 30 – 40 % of the surgeon’s fee), and
- The hospital room/theatre/bed fee (requirement s varying depending on the procedure).
2.3 Where simultaneous bilateral surgery is necessary, a 50% reduction is applied to the fee for the second (fellow) side.
2.4 For minor operations, typically no anaesthetist is required, and there is therefore no anaesthetist fee.
2.5 For minor operations, there is, however, a fee for the treatment room (typically between £250 – £450).
2.6 Where a biopsy is required, a separate fee applies (set by the histopathologist).
2.7 Surgical fees do not include the necessary follow up fees, although frequently ‘packages’ are offered.
2.8 For self-paying new patients who are seen and undergo surgery on the same day (typically for a minor procedure, such as a lid cyst), a reduction of approximately 15 – 20% is offered.
(3) Eyelid surgery:
3.1. In general, the fee for small lid procedures is in the range of £300 – £500 per side.
3.2. For larger lid surgeries, such as ptosis, fees are approximately £850 – £1000 per side.
3.3 The fees for eyelid reconstruction following tumour excision vary depending on the complexity of the reconstruction.
3.4 In all cases, there is also a room/hospital fee for the surgery.
3.5 For minor procedures, where no anaesthetist is required, there is no anaesthetist fee. For larger cases, there is also an anaesthetist fee.
(4) Lacrimal (watery eye) surgery:
4.1. For minor lacrimal surgery (punctal surgery, inner lid malposition surgery), fees vary from £300 – £500.
4.2. For major lacrimal surgeries, fees are in the region of £1000 per side.
4.3 In all cases, there is also a room/hospital fee for the surgery.
4.4 For minor procedures, where no anaesthetist is required, there is no anaesthetist fee. For larger cases, there is an anaesthetist fee.
(5) Orbital surgery
5.1. Orbital operations vary significantly in range and complexity.
5.2. Surgical fees thus range between £1000 – £2000 per side, again depending on the complexity of the case.
5.3 Orbital surgery for thyroid eye disease is one such example where treatments vary, as do the fees.
5.4 In all orbital cases, there is also a room/hospital fee for the surgery, and a fee for the anaesthetist.
(6) Socket surgery (including surgery to permit the wear of an artificial eye)
6.1 Socket operations vary significantly in range and complexity.
6.2 Surgical fees thus range between £1000 – £1500 per side, again depending on the complexity of the case.
6.3 The moulding and fitting of an artificial eye is undertaken by the ocular prosthetists, with a separate fee structure.
6.4 In all socket cases, there is also a room/hospital fee for surgery, and a fee for the anaesthetist. Such operations tend to require an overnight stay.
(7) Other fees – Imaging review.
7.1 For review of CDs of images (CT, MRI, lacrimal imaging) outside a clinic appointment, such work is undertaken at a rate of £300 per hour. Most images can be reviewed within 10 – 20 few minutes.
7.2 Where a formal report is required, the images are sent to a specialist neuroradiologist, this attracting a higher fee, depending on the number of CTs to be reviewed, and the complexity of the case. The hourly rate is similar.
(8) Other fees – Provision of medico-legal reports
This is covered elsewhere on www.MrVerity.com