Frequently asked questions

Firstly, booking your 45-minute initial consultation couldn’t be simpler. You can contact us either by phone, email or via our online form. Just let us know your preferred date and time.

We’ll then send you a simple registration form and medical questionnaire, so we have all the relevant information for your first appointment.

If you’re seeking help for an ongoing medical condition, please bring any test results or information about previous treatments you’ve had with you.

Dr Tickle is available for face-to-face, telephone and video consultations between the following times:

Monday: 9.00am-4.30pm

Tuesday: 9.00am-6.00pm

Wednesday: 9.00am-4.30pm

Thursday: 8.30am-4.30pm

Consultations may be available at other times, so if you need to make an alternative arrangement, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Please note that we’re only able to offer 15-minute consultations via video or telephone.

Firstly, yes. The service you’ll receive is completely confidential. There’s also no automatic transfer of data between private services and the NHS, so Dr Tickle won’t have access to your NHS records either.

We do strongly recommend that any significant medical events such as diagnoses or changes in medication should be reported to your NHS GP, should you have one, but we won’t do this without your express permission.

Yes, that’s absolutely fine. You can be registered in the NHS and choose to be seen privately.

Do be aware, however: there’s no guarantee that prescriptions offered in the private system can be transferred to the NHS, and you can’t use the private sector to queue-jump for treatments or investigations carried out within the NHS.

No – as an independent clinician, Dr Tickle can’t give NHS prescriptions.

You’ll need to pay the dispensing pharmacist for all prescribed medications, and the price reflects the true cost of the medication, rather than the subsidised NHS prescription fee.

We work closely with a trusted company called Pharmacierge. They deliver medication to patients, and have proved to be an excellent and reliable partner for phone or video consultation requirements.

In the majority of cases, this isn’t something we can do. There are exceptions however. For example, if we’re consulting on an area where the NHS is the sole provider, we can always make arrangements.

We do. We offer vaccinations against everything except Yellow Fever and COVID.

This includes vaccinations for:

• Chickenpox
• Flu
• HPV
• Pneumonia
• Travel
• Whooping cough

We strongly recommend that anyone at risk of acquiring HPV or suffering from shingles is vaccinated against them.

HPV vaccinations are offered to both boys and girls around the age of 13 via the NHS. We also recommend vaccinations for older adults at higher risk of HPV-related cancers, such as those with more than one partner, or men who have sex with men.

The NHS also offers routine vaccination against shingles for those aged 70+. In order to effectively reduce the instances of shingles, we feel there’s value in offering vaccination from the age of 55.

For travel vaccinations you’ll need to complete and return a form before attending your appointment.

Please note that we’re able to administer most vaccines 48 hours after notification that you need them. These appointments always need to be pre-booked to ensure availability.

Dr Tickle doesn’t see patients outside of normal opening hours. If you need urgent medical attention outside of clinic times, you can visit one of HCA Healthcare UK’s Urgent Care Centres, or call NHS 111.

In the case of a life-threatening condition or a major accident, you should call NHS 999.

If you’re dealing with a significant emergency, such as chest pain, loss of consciousness, signs of stroke, bleeding or broken bones, the best and safest thing to do is to go to an NHS Accident and Emergency department.

You can always move from the NHS to private care later if you wish.

The short answer is no. Usually, once a referral has been made, you’ll need to book your own appointment. Remember, if you have a medical insurance package, you’ll need to get authorisation from your insurer first.