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What to expect when you visit us
Your Initial Consultation: What happens?
When you visit us for the first time we will need to
ask you a lot of questions. This may include asking
you about your medical history and about any
previous illnesses or accidents.
We will ask about your current state of health and
about any medication you are currently taking, as
well as the problem you are consulting us about. We
do this so we can make an accurate diagnosis. If we
feel that osteopathic treatment is not appropriate
for you we will refer you to your GP or other
healthcare professional.
If you take prescribed medications, or have test
results you feel may be relevant, please bring them
with you.
We will endeavour not only to treat your symptoms
but to also provide you with the knowledge &
skills to manage the condition and where possible to
prevent it from coming back.
As with all regulated healthcare professionals we
operate to strict guidelines. This, amongst other
things, ensures your confidentiality. With very few
exceptions anything you report to us will not be
disclosed to anyone without your explicit consent.
You may be asked to undress to your underwear as
we need to complete a thorough physical examination
in order to diagnose your condition properly. You
may wear shorts, sports bra etc if you wish. We will
always respect your modesty, so if you would prefer
to remain dressed or would prefer to see a female or
a male osteopath, tell a member of staff, preferably
when making your appointment, or at the consultation
itself. You are also welcome to bring someone with
you to the consultation if it would make you feel
more comfortable. Please do not be afraid to raise
issues such as this or ask questions; by
communicating effectively with each other we can
make your experience more comfortable.
The techniques employed by osteopaths are very safe.
About 60% of people do not suffer any negative
effects from treatment but for those that do the
main side effect is aching or an increase in your
symptoms for a short period after the treatment.
Headaches, dizziness and fatigue have been reported
mostly for up to 24hrs after treatment. This is not
anything you need to be concerned about, but if you
are worried or if it extends beyond the 24hr period,
please call the clinic.
After treatment it is not advisable to undertake any
heavy activity. As a general rule, if it hurts,
don’t do it. Some people may experience an increase
in their symptoms; this is normal and should only
last about 24 hours before settling down.
We can be contacted out of hours for emergency
advice by calling the usual clinic number; you may
need to leave a message so we can get back to you.
If you are not happy with the service we provide we
would like to know. We are constantly striving to
improve our service.
Please see our
Appointments
page for information on booking, our fees and
opening times.
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