Fees & Payment
Any patient who consults or is treated by a consultant in the private medical sector will be personally responsible for the payment of all their consultant’s fees and a financial contract exists between them. In many instances patients have private medical insurance that will fully reimburse them for their medical fees.
If you are using private healthcare insurance, most insurance companies require a referral letter from your GP to me before you attend your first appointment with me. Alternatively, your insurance company may have recommended me to you as an experienced specialist particularly suited to your healthcare needs. You'll need to bring along details of your insurance company, your policy number and your claim or pre-authorisation number with you to the appointment. Always enquire with your insurance company as to whether there are any restrictions on your policy cover and please note that insurance companies do not necessarily reimburse you for all fees. There are often exclusions within these policies (i.e. specific medical conditions, outpatient allowances or payment by the patient of an initial excess amount). Consequently, there may be shortfalls in the insurance reimbursement that the patient receives for the consultant’s fees. In the event that there is a shortfall, it is borne by the patient who is personally liable to the consultant for his/her fees and should be settled with Dr Pitcher directly, as he works independently and is not employed or paid by the private hospital or insurance companies.
If you are not privately insured for reimbursement of consultant’s fees (ie. a self-pay patient), please feel free to contact Amanda, my secretary for a fee estimate or if you need any clarification in respect of my charges. Payment may be requested on the day of consultation.