What to expect – frequently asked questions2020-08-03T11:30:20+01:00

What to expect – frequently asked questions

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Frequently asked questions

Foot & Ankle Surgeon

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Making an appointmentYour appointmentInvestigations (X-rays, scans & blood tests)Arranging an operationIn hospitalLeaving hospital and home

Making an appointment

What is the process if I am paying for my own treatment?2020-08-27T13:58:16+01:00

After your appointment you will be emailed an invoice to be paid within 30 days via a bank transfer.

Will my insurance cover me?2020-06-28T13:37:20+01:00

Our practice is covered by the major healthcare insurance providers. If you have private medical insurance, please contact your insurer to confirm that you are covered for your consultation and imaging appointments and whether you will need a GP referral. Please do this prior to seeing your Consultant. Your insurance company will provide you with an authorisation code which we will need when booking your appointment, along with your policy or membership details. All of this information can be obtained from your insurance company.

Depending on your specific insurance policy you may liable for some of the costs and there may be certain outpatient treatments such as joint injections and blood tests that may not be fully covered by your insurance policy. Please note, even if you are privately insured, you are entirely responsible for all of your consultants’ fees and that the contract you undertake is with your consultant and not your insurance company.

Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Foot & Ankle Surgeon
How much does it cost?2023-03-17T15:24:59+00:00

In most cases, your outpatient costs should be covered by your insurance company, but please check as this can vary depending on your individual insurance and excess policy. If you are a self-pay, new appointments are £250 and follow up appointments are £175.

Do I need a new or follow-up appointment?2020-06-23T15:52:11+01:00

If you have not seen the Consultant previously for this problem, you have a different problem or if it is more than 1 year since your last appointment then please book a new appointment.

Do I need a referral letter?2023-03-17T15:35:57+00:00

If you are claiming through your health insurance, they may require a referral from your GP or therapist before authorising your consultation and treatment. If you are unsure then please call 01908 014 486 or email us on admin@mercuryfootandankle.clinic and one our team will be able to assist you. If you are paying for treatment yourself then you do not need a referral letter.

How do I make an appointment?2023-03-17T15:24:20+00:00

To arrange an appointment with one of our Consultants, please call 01908 014 486 or email us on admin@mercuryfootandankle.clinic

Your appointment

How do I cancel or re-arrange an appointment?2023-03-17T15:26:41+00:00

It is very important to let us know in advance if you aren’t able to make your appointment, so that we can allocate your slot to another patient. Please call us on 01908 014 486 or email us on admin@mercuryfootandankle.clinic

Will you send me a letter after my appointment?2023-03-17T15:27:15+00:00

We think it’s very important that you have time to think about your options and the advice that we give. We will make sure that you receive a record of your consultation after every appointment. With your consent, we will also send a copy of that letter to your GP for their information. Where possible, we will send your letter via a secure email service to maintain your confidentiality. We will ask you to consent us to do this for you. Our privacy and data protection policies can be found here.
If you have questions after receiving your letter, please call us on 01908 014 486 or email us on admin@mercuryfootandankle.clinic and we will be happy to go through things with you.

Will I need a follow-up appointment?2020-06-23T15:56:50+01:00

If further investigations are performed, typically an appointment will be made for you to go through the results with you.
If you have had an operation, a follow up appointment will be made either before you leave hospital, or a member of our team will contact you to make sure that is arranged.

Are chaperones available?2020-06-23T15:56:35+01:00

Of course. Please let the nursing staff know on your arrival and we can arrange that for you.

What will happen at the appointment?2020-08-03T11:43:07+01:00

Your consultant will take the time to ask you about your problem, how it’s affecting you, and your previous medical history. This will be followed by a physical examination. Based on those findings, you may require further tests such as X-Rays, scans, ultrasound or blood tests. Once all the information has been collected, your Consultant will discuss your diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan with you.

What should I wear?2020-06-23T15:56:04+01:00

You are likely to require an examination. We therefore recommend you wear clothes that are loose or easy to remove. Gowns will be provided for if needed. If you wear insoles or orthotics, please bring them with you to your consultation.

Do I need to bring anything?2020-06-23T15:55:48+01:00

It would be helpful if you could bring details of your insurer and any pre-authorisation numbers. Other useful information includes a list of any medications you take regularly, and any copies of any scans or X-Rays you have had related to your current condition.

Is there parking?2023-03-17T15:36:55+00:00

There is parking available at both the Three Shires Hospital and The Saxon Clinic. Please be aware that parking is quite limited on both sites and you may wish to allow some time to find a suitable parking spot prior to your appointment.

Is there disabled access?2020-06-23T15:55:12+01:00

All the clinics we use have disabled access. If you have any specific requirements, please contact the clinic in advance and they can assist you.

Where will my appointment be?2023-03-17T15:28:37+00:00

Our Consultants work at the Three Shires Hospital in Northampton and the The Saxon Clinic in Milton Keynes. When booking you appointment please be sure to confirm which venue you wish to be seen.

Investigations (X-rays, scans & blood tests)

When do I get my results?2023-03-17T15:29:33+00:00

We will endeavour to get the results of the scans back to you as soon as possible. Many of the scans such as CT, MRI and ultrasound will be reviewed by a radiologist who is a specialist in imaging and they will send a report to your Consultant. Once the report is available, the team will be in contact with you to arrange an appointment with you. If you have not heard from us a week after your scan has been performed, then please contact us on 01908 014 486 or email us on admin@mercuryfootandankle.clinic.

What types of investigations do you commonly perform?2020-06-23T15:59:49+01:00

Xrays – These are used to look at the bones and joints. X-Rays involve a small amount of radiation. If you are pregnant, it is important that you let us know as it may be safer to delay. X-Rays can frequently be performed on the same day as your appointment.

CT scan – these scans provide far more detailed information about bones compared to X-Rays but require more radiation to achieve this. If you are pregnant, it is important that you let us know as it may be safer to delay.

MRI scan – these scans are used to give very detailed views of the soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons. They are also excellent to assess if there has been any damage to the cartilage within a joint. They use powerful magnets to produce an image and so no radiation is required. However, if you have certain metal objects in your body such as heart pacemaker or cochlear hearing implants then it may not be possible to have a MRI scan. You will be asked to fill in a safety questionnaire before you have a scan.

Ultrasound – these scans are performed by a specialist radiologist and are useful to assess tendons and other soft tissues. They are also useful in guiding injections within the foot and ankle.

Blood tests – We use blood tests to look for signs of infection or inflammation. They are also often taken before bigger operations to ensure that you are medically fit for the operation and to check your blood group. They are often done on the same day as your appointment.

MRI, CT and Ultrasound scans will be booked by your Consultant for you and you will receive a separate appointment from our team.

Arranging an operation

How do I find out the cost of an operation?2020-08-03T11:44:36+01:00

If you are self-funding your operation, the hospital will provide you with a formal quote prior to your admission. This will include hospital fees, surgeon fees, anaesthetic fees and will cover the period of your inpatient stay only. There will be a refundable cost for unexpected expenses. Our surgeon fees are fixed and reviewed on an annual basis.

How do I change the date of an operation?2023-03-17T15:30:09+00:00

Please call 01908 014 486 as soon as possible. This will allow your operation slot to be reallocated to another patient.

How do I arrange the operation date?2020-06-23T16:00:40+01:00

Your consultant will discuss potential operation dates with you at the time of the appointment. You will receive a call from the hospital’s administration team following your consultation to confirm a date that is convenient.

In hospital

When can I go home?2020-06-23T16:02:09+01:00

Most foot and ankle operations can be performed as a day case procedure and we will endeavour to get you home on the same day. You will not be advised to go home until the team are satisfied that you will be safe. You will be given some medications to take home as well as instructions for the early part of your recovery.

What will happen whilst I am in hospital?2020-06-23T16:01:47+01:00

Once you arrive at the hospital you will be shown to your room and the nursing staff will complete some paperwork with you. You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Your Consultant will visit you in your room to answer any questions you may have. The site of surgery will be marked with a pen. If you haven’t already done so, you will be asked to sign a consent form. The anaesthetist will go through the anaesthetic with you and answer your questions. You will then be escorted to the operating theatre complex. Following surgery, you will be transferred to a recovery ward before returning to your room.

Your Consultant will visit you and go through the details of the operations with you and any future plans. Later in the day, once you have recovered from the anaesthetic, you will be seen by the physiotherapy team who will guide your immediate rehabilitation.

Leaving hospital and home

If I need physiotherapy or insoles, who do I contact?2020-06-23T16:03:32+01:00

We have excellent links with physiotherapists, podiatrists, osteopaths and other clinicians. We will be delighted to offer recommendations. We understand that surgery is only one step in your journey to getting better and working with our partners we can get you where you want to be.

When will I be seen again by my surgeon?2020-06-23T16:03:16+01:00

In the vast majority of patients, we will arrange a follow-up appointment 1-2 weeks after your surgery. This will give you the opportunity to ask any further questions about your surgery, but also to explain the rehabilitation process and help you on your recovery.

Where do I have my stitches removed?2020-06-23T16:02:56+01:00

Your stitches will be removed by our nurses in the clinic and we will arrange for that to happen with your follow-up appointment. Your stitches are usually removed 10-14 days after surgery.

Who do I contact if I have a question or problem after leaving hospital?2023-03-17T15:30:47+00:00

During working hours (Monday to Friday 0900-1700) please contact our team on 01908 014 486 or email us on admin@mercuryfootandankle.clinic. They will arrange for your Consultant or one of the team to contact you. Out of hours, please contact the hospital where you had surgery.

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Making an appointmentYour appointmentInvestigations (X-rays, scans & blood tests)Arranging an operationIn hospitalLeaving hospital and home

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Foot & Ankle Surgeon
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Meet Our Team

Mercury Foot & Ankle Surgeon Intro Video
Mr Arul Ramasamy

Consultant Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon
PhD, FRCS(Tr&Orth), DipSportsMed, MFSEM, MA(Cantab)

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Mercury Foot & Ankle Surgeon Intro Video
Mr Joel Humphrey

Consultant Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon
BSc(Hons), MBBS, MSc(SportsMed), FRCS(Tr&Orth)

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Testimonials

Foot & Ankle Surgeon

My condition had deteriorated to the point that I was unable to walk for extended periods of time without pain and swelling of the ankle, and I would rarely be able to join in most family activities. The support and guidance provided by Mr Ramasamy were exemplary and enabled me to make a fully informed decision regarding the options available to me. Now, the pain is much more manageable and the stability that the treatment has provided is such that I feel that I regained a significant part of my life and as such my confidence.

Private Client

I found Mr Ramasamy extremely professional and reassuring. On the day of my procedure I received the most efficient, organised and professional care in my life. Your nurses were the best I have ever experienced. Mr Ramasamy’s team, in theatre made me feel at ease and made the whole procedure more bearable. They go way beyond the extra mile for their patients.

Private Client

I wanted to share my excellent experiences and compliment Mr Ramasamy and his team. I found him extremely professional and reassured that he understood how much pain I was in. On the day of my procedure, it was the most efficient, organized and professional care I have ever received – from checking into reception to being allocated a bay and taken into theatre – your nurses in the recovery area were the best I have ever received. Mr Ramasay’s team, especially in theatre, made me feel at ease, kept me informed throughout the whole procedure and made the whole procedure more bearable.

Private Client

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Foot & Ankle Surgeon

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