What to expect for your appointment and surgery
At Independent Health Group we always put patients first. We take great care over the service you receive as an Independent Health Group patient and do as much as we can to make your treatment a simple and pleasant experience.
The information below provides a general outline of what to expect from your treatment, however, there are times that this changes due to the needs of individual patients.
Wait times
To view our average wait times click here.
For further information on our wait times please contact us on 03330 100 362.
Appointment confirmation
Once you have chosen your appointment date and time we will send you a letter to confirm all of the details, including a map showing how to find us. All of our facilities have parking available and in most cases it is free. This will also be detailed for you.
Attending your appointments and surgery dates
Patients seen in our vasectomy service often only come to one appointment, that is for their consultation and vasectomy procedure. If you prefer to speak/ consult with one of our doctors before the day of your vasectomy it may be convenient for you to do this by telephone, though again if you prefer to be seen in our clinic please do let us know.
For all other services the following pathway is usually followed;
On the day of your appointment, report to the main reception of the clinic and they will direct you to the waiting area. Your appointment will usually last 15 to 30 minutes. If you do need surgery your clinician will give you all the specific information you’ll need about how to prepare for it and what to bring with you on the day.
On the day of your surgery if it is needed, report to reception as with your last appointment. You will meet with the clinician before going into theatre to check all is well, and to go through the consent process. Your operation length will depend on the type of procedure that you are having, for more information about operation duration visit the specific services page on our website or speak to your clinician. All of our patients are able to go home after some light refreshment following the operation.
After surgery care
After your operation your clinician will let you know what to expect from your recovery process and how to look after yourself in the next days and weeks. If you have any concerns at any point then we have a telephone number that you can call for further advice.
Follow up appointments
If a follow up in person is needed, you will always be offered an appointment with the same clinician that you have seen for your initial appointment and operation. We also do some follow up appointments over the phone which our patients tell us is the most convenient for them.
If you have any further questions you may find our FAQs page useful, or if you can’t find what you are looking for get in touch either calling 03330 100 362 or emailing ihg.referralsandenquiries@nhs.net.
Safeguarding Statement
Safeguarding Adults and Children is Everyone's Responsibility
At Independent Health Group, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, wellbeing and human rights of all adults, children and young people. We believe that everyone has the right to be safe, treated with dignity and respect, and protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and avoidable harm.
Safeguarding is a core responsibility of every member of our workforce. We expect all employees, contractors, associates and volunteers to recognise and respond appropriately to concerns and to contribute to a culture where safety, compassion and accountability are embedded in everyday practice.
We are committed to preventing, identifying and responding to all forms of abuse and harm, including:
| Emotional & Psychological Abuse | Physical & Sexual Abuse
(Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct) | Domestic Abuse | Neglect & Acts of Omission |
| Financial & Material Abuse | Discriminatory Abuse | Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking | Exploitation
(Criminal, Sexual & Financial) |
| Online Abuse & Cyber-Enabled Harm | Organisational or Institutional Abuse |
We are committed to creating safe environments where patients, families, carers, staff and visitors are treated with dignity and respect and can raise concerns without fear.
We recognise modern slavery and human trafficking as serious safeguarding issues and are committed to identifying and responding to indicators of exploitation affecting patients, staff and others who come into contact with our services.
Our safeguarding arrangements are supported by Executive and Senior Nursing Safeguarding Leads who provide leadership, expert advice, oversight and assurance across the organisation. We also have access to several Safeguarding Specialists for additional advice, guidance and training needs. We maintain safeguarding policies and procedures that are aligned with relevant legislation, national guidance and local safeguarding partnership arrangements.
Our commitment includes:
- Providing safeguarding training appropriate to staff roles and responsibilities.
- Maintaining robust safeguarding governance and assurance processes.
- Operating safer recruitment practices and undertaking appropriate pre-employment checks.
- Working collaboratively with patients, carers, partner organisations, local authorities, safeguarding partnerships, NHS organisations and other agencies.
- Promoting Making Safeguarding Personal principles and supporting individuals to achieve outcomes that matter to them.
- Supporting equality, diversity and inclusion and recognising the additional risks faced by vulnerable individuals and communities.
- Learning from safeguarding incidents, reviews, audits and feedback to continuously improve the quality and safety of our services.
We encourage patients, carers, families, staff and members of the public to raise any safeguarding concern. All concerns are taken seriously and are managed promptly, sensitively and in accordance with statutory guidance and local safeguarding procedures.
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of anyone (patients or staff) or would just like some advice, please contact inhg.safeguarding@nhs.net