FAQs

We provide comprehensive orthopaedic and maxillofacial care, including diagnosis, non-surgical treatments, surgical procedures, and rehabilitation services.

Our orthopaedic specialists provide the latest treatments for:

Bone infections
Foot & ankle conditions
Hand & wrist conditions

Hip conditions
Conditions affecting the mouth, jaw and face

Knee conditions

Limb reconstruction
Lower limb deformities
Paediatric orthopaedics
Pain management
Rheumatology conditions
Shoulder & elbow problems
Spinal conditions
Sports injuries


If you are a self-pay patient, you don’t necessarily need a GP referral to see a consultant at OS Clinic. You can just call us and make an appointment. If you are an insured patient, your private healthcare insurance provider may ask for a GP referral before you visit the clinic.

You can book an appointment online or just give us a call on +44 (0)20 7046 8000.

Appointment times vary but your first consultation may take around 30-45 minutes, while follow-up appointments typically take around 15-30 minutes.

OS Clinic offers appointments and treatment in prestigious locations in Harley Street and across London. We also have access to hospitals across the South of England.

OS Clinic consultants are world-leading experts in orthopaedics and oral maxillofacial surgery. You can quickly access the advice and care you need without joining a waiting list. You can self-refer by emailing us or phoning for an appointment. We are also recognised by most major companies for insured patients.

Appointment availability varies, depending on your chosen specialist, but we will usually see urgent cases within 24 hours.

Yes, we encourage second opinions for complex cases to help you make an informed decision that’s right for you.

Yes, we have specialist paediatric orthopaedic consultants that only see patients that are under 18 years old. They are experts in their field and they will see children at a number of locations across London that are set up to see and treat paediatric patients.

The specialist will discuss your medical history, carry out a physical examination, and may arrange for you to have X-rays, imaging or other tests to diagnose your condition. You’ll then be able to discuss the treatment that’s right for you.

Yes. We believe in the continuity of care, so you’ll see the same specialist each time you visit.

OS Clinic treats self-pay patients and those with private healthcare insurance. We also offer a full service for international patients.

Yes, you are welcome to bring a friend or family member to your appointment if you’d like to. It can help to have someone taking notes during your consultation and to discuss things with you afterwards.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please get in touch as soon as possible. You may be charged for the appointment if you cannot give 48 hours’ notice.

Yes, we can provide telehealth consultations for appointments. Please talk to us if you’d prefer a remote consultation to a face-to-face meeting. Please note that this isn’t always possible for all conditions, especially where a physical examination is required.

In some cases, you may have an X-ray or MRI scan immediately after your appointment. This will depend on where you have your appointment and if a conveniently timed booking can be made for you. Your consultant will complete a request form and advise you on where to have the scan. The OS Clinic team can help you book the appointment if it isn’t available on the same day.

At the end of your initial consultation, your consultant will discuss your treatment options and talk you through the next steps – these might include having an X-ray or diagnostic scan.

If you decide to go ahead with a procedure, the specialist will complete a booking form, which our team will send to the hospital of your choice. As a next step, you’ll likely need a pre-assessment appointment at the hospital. The hospital’s team will contact you directly to arrange this.

If you’re a self-pay patient, you’ll receive a letter with a breakdown of the fees. Most hospitals offer a way to spread the cost of the procedure.

If you’re an insured patient, you must contact your insurer with details of the procedure and the fees payable. Your insurer will give you an authorisation code to pass to the hospital before your appointment.

We provide a range of non-surgical options including pain management, medication, joint injections, bracing, and advice on lifestyle changes to improve a wide range of orthopaedic and maxillofacial conditions.

Yes, we perform minimally invasive procedures, including arthroscopy, to reduce your hospital stay, recovery, and speed of rehabilitation.

We offer knee, hip, shoulder, and other joint replacement surgery using the latest surgical techniques and enhanced recovery to improve your outcomes.

Our specialists work at hospitals and clinics across London and the South of England. We collaborate with these major centres of excellence to ensure our patients have the best access to orthopaedic and maxillofacial care.

Before your pre-operative assessment, the hospital will send you a questionnaire that you can complete prior to the procedure.

When you have your pre-operative assessment the hospital team will ask some questions about your health and enable you to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have.

Your hospital team will send you detailed information about how to prepare for your visit to avoid complications from the anaesthetic or surgery. This advice usually includes:

Avoid eating for at least six hours before surgery
Avoid drinking for at least three hours before surgery
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before surgery
Have a bath or shower before you come to the hospital for your treatment
If you have diabetes, ask your diabetes nurse or GP for advice about fasting and remember to let your hospital team know before your surgery
If you take blood-thinning medicine, discuss this with your GP and let hospital staff know before your surgery
Quit smoking for at least 12 hours before surgery – or stop altogether if you can
If you’re having knee-alignment surgery, you’ll be advised to stop smoking at least six weeks before your procedure and not to smoke for at least 12 weeks afterwards

If, for any reason, you need to cancel your surgery, please get in touch as soon as you can.

Your consultant will already have discussed your procedure in detail before you come to the hospital, along with any potential risks or complications of surgery. On the day of your treatment, you’ll be asked if you have any other questions. When you’re satisfied you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether to proceed or not, you’ll be asked to sign a Patient Consent Form.

Wear some comfortable, casual clothes, and shoes that won’t slip. Please leave any valuables at home and avoid wearing jewellery if possible. Avoid wearing make-up, including nail varnish or artificial nails.

You’ll need your insurance documents, a payment card, and a list of any medicines you’re taking. You’ll also need to:

Bring along any regular medication you take, including inhalers
Don’t forget spectacles or contact lenses and solutions, hearing aids or walking aids
It’s OK to bring a friend or relative to keep you company until it’s time for your procedure
Let the hospital know about any long-term health conditions or allergies – it can help to make a list and bring it with you
You might have some periods of waiting so bring books, magazines and electronic devices to help pass the time if you wish

When you arrive at the hospital, you’ll need to sign some paperwork. One of the team will show you your private room and ask some questions about your health. They’ll conduct tests, including checking your blood pressure, temperature and pulse. You’ll be given an identity bracelet and gown to wear while you’re in hospital.

Your anaesthetist and consultant will come and see you to confirm the details of your anaesthetic and procedure. Then, they’ll ask you to sign the Consent Form to confirm you’re aware of the risks and complications of any surgery. A friend or relative can stay with you until it’s time for your procedure.

Your anaesthetist will discuss this with you. Most patients who have orthopaedic or maxillofacial surgery will have a general anaesthetic, but you may be offered an alternative if you have particular medical issues. Some patients may be offered a spinal anaesthetic alongside a general anaesthetic or instead of another type of anaesthetic.

You’ll be closely monitored by the hospital team in the recovery ward, and pain relief will be offered if you need it. Depending on the type of surgery you’ve had, you may be able to return home on the same day once you’ve had something to eat and drink and feel steady enough.

You’ll need to have someone at home with you for at least 24 hours after surgery.

In most cases, patients have an injection of pain relief at the end of their surgery, before they come round from the general anaesthetic, which can help reduce their pain for up to 12 hours afterwards. Some patients need additional pain relief when this wears off. Your hospital team will be able to advise you about this.

Your consultant will discuss this with you beforehand, but it will depend on the type of surgery you’ve had. In most cases, keyhole surgery (arthroscopy) is a day case procedure. For more complex surgery, you may need to stay longer.

Your recovery time will depend on the procedure you’ve had. Minor surgeries may require a few weeks of rehabilitation, while major joint replacements may take several months. Your specialist will be able to give you more details.

Every surgical procedure involves some risk, but we take every precaution to minimise any risk to our patients. Your specialist will explain these risks, including the risks of anaesthesia before you agree to surgery so you understand the risks and benefits of a procedure before you decide whether to go ahead. Risks can vary, depending on your procedure, but can include:

Bleeding: it’s rare to have excessive bleeding, especially after arthroscopy (keyhole surgery). Your surgeon may use a tourniquet and/or surgical drain. This minimises the bleeding risk. A few patients may need to have a blood transfusion after major surgery
Complications from anaesthesia: serious complications are rare, but many people have nausea after an anaesthetic. This can be treated with medication
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a blood clot forms in the leg
Infection: this is a rare complication of surgery. The hospital team will take action to minimise this risk but, in some cases, patients need to have antibiotics or – rarely – further surgery to treat infection
Pulmonary embolism, where a blood clot forms in the lungs

Your hospital team will assess your risk level for DVT and pulmonary embolism and take precautions to minimise it. This might include blood-thinning medicine and a ‘foot pump’, which helps increase blood flow to the veins in your leg. You’ll also be encouraged to get up and move soon after surgery.

Slow healing in the wound and bone: more likely if you smoke, have diabetes or are overweight. Some medications can also increase your risk. We advise patients to stop smoking for at least two weeks before major surgery.

At OS Clinic, we schedule follow-up visits to monitor your recovery and adjust your treatment plan. You will have a personalised rehabilitation plan with a physiotherapist to help you get back to normal as fast as possible. You’re more likely to recover quickly if you understand what you can and can’t do after surgery and closely follow your physiotherapist’s exercise advice. You may also need additional support at home while you recover.

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 999. If you’re concerned about complications but it’s not an emergency, call your GP or 111 for advice or contact the hospital where you had the procedure. Their clinical team will be able to assess you and, if required, contact the consultant for advice.

Most hospitals are happy for you to bring someone with you. They can stay with you until you go for your procedure. You’ll need someone to accompany you home and stay with you afterwards. If you stay overnight or longer, you’ll be advised about visiting times.

This is something to discuss with your consultant before you consent to the procedure. They should be able to give you a typical time guideline – some patients will recover more quickly than others. It will also depend on the procedure you’ve had, how you get to work, and what’s involved in your everyday job.

After keyhole surgery, most people can return to back to work after a few days. More complex surgery may take up to six weeks.

At OS Clinic, we will be able to update you as to the consultant fees for your initial
consultations. If a procedure is required the hospital will be able to advise on the cost of
the treatment. For further information, just get in touch at info@os.clinic or call us on +44(0) 20 7046 8000.

If you’re paying for yourself, you will need to pay upfront before your scheduled procedure or opt for one of the hospital’s finance options. That means paying for any treatment and aftercare in affordable instalments.

We accept GP referrals from the NHS to our private clinic. However, the costs are not covered by the NHS. Patients opt to self-pay or use their private medical insurance.

OS Clinic is recognised by most medical insurers. For a complete list, just get in touch at info@os.clinic or call us on +44 (0) 20 7046 8000.

You can refer a patient to OS Clinic if you’re a GP, physiotherapist, consultant, dentist or allied healthcare professional. We’ll process the referral on the same day we receive it and update you with the patient’s appointment details. Just email your referral to info@os.clinic or call us on
+44 (0) 20 7046 8000.