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FAQs
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We understand that you may have questions about your visit, procedures, and the services we offer. Our FAQ section is designed to provide clear, concise answers to common queries regarding appointments, diagnostics, treatments, and more. Whether you’re wondering about referrals, payment options, preparation for procedures, or post-treatment care, you’ll find all the essential information here.
If you would like some advice on the kind of investigations you may need before you book your appointment, please do not hesitate to contact us.
No, you do not need a referral from your GP to schedule an appointment with us. You are able to self-refer to Harmony and can request an appointment through our website/through this link.
Please aim to arrive 10 minutes prior to the appointment. We may not be able to accommodate arrivals later than 10 minutes from the appointment time. Every possible effort will be made to see you on the same day, should you be running late. We would appreciate if you call us, in case you are running late.
Sometimes a new and review appointment may be bundled with an Ultrasound scan. The clinic will be in touch with you, if you wish to organise this in advance. Every attempt will be made to see you for the review as soon as possible, keeping in mind that the scan needs to be reported.
Our clinic is located within the premises of Vitalscan, a private scan centre at Milton Keynes city centre. We are located within walking distance, from the Milton Keynes train station. Milton Keynes has excellent road and rail links.
Designated parking is available outside the clinic. You will need to register your car at the reception.
A new clinic appointment takes 30 minutes. If a procedure such as endoscopy is planned, then it may take another 20 – 30 minutes.
A review appointment may take up to 20 minutes.
Yes. Dr. Arjun Prakash and Dr. Asad Khan provide evening appointments. To view appointments and slots, (click here).
- Any form of photo identification (Mandatory).
- Your insurance membership card or pre-authorization code, if applicable.
- Valid Passport (UK or Iinternational)
- UK Driving Licence (full or provisional, photocard version)
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (if applicable)
- National ID Card (for EU/EEA citizens)
You are encouraged to bring all clinical records (letters, treatment summaries, scan reports, endoscopy reports etc.), medicines or the latest prescription in use with you to the clinic appointment. This helps the doctor with more efficient decision making and reduce the need for repeat tests.
Yes. You are welcome to bring one individual however we would suggest that the only one person accompany you to the clinic appointment due to the limited clinic space. Where possible, please let us know so that we can make any arrangements, if needed.
To secure an appointment, you would need to pay a deposit fee which would be adjusted in the total cost of the appointment at your visit. If you are unable to attend the appointment, please inform us 24 hours prior and your deposit will be refunded. The amount cannot be refunded if the cancellation is within 24 hours or in case of a ‘No Show’.
If there is any other circumstance that does not allow you to pay the deposit, please do get in touch with us by phone or e-mail.
You also have the option to pay for the appointment in full, online. If you paid for a package that includes a certain test, which you thought you may need, and on discussion with the doctor it was not needed, the amount for the test will be refunded back to you.
If you have chosen to have an ultrasound, or you think you need one, please ensure you do not take solid food or 6 hours, and liquids for 5 hours prior to your appointment. This will enable us to provide you with the best assessment on your scan.
If you have chosen to have an endoscopy during your clinic appointment, or think you might need one, please ensure you do not eat or drink at least 6 hours prior to your appointment. This is to prevent vomiting and the food content moving into your windpipe. Food residue also prevents adequate assessment during an endoscopy.
If you have diabetes then please inform us beforehand.
If you are on blood thinning medicines (Warfarin, Apixaban, Edoxaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, Acenocoumarin), you must omit the dose on the day of procedure.
You must take any blood pressure lowering medicine on the day of procedure.
The same applies, if you have decided to have an endoscopy under deep sedation.
Please refer to this document for more detailed information on Endoscopy at Harmony.
With your consent, we will be happy to send over a clinic and/or procedure summary along with a proposed management plan.
Endoscopy procedures are generally well tolerated with only a local anaesthetic (numbing) spray. However we understand that you may prefer to have sedation for the procedure.
At Harmony we offer 2 types of endoscopy.
Upper endoscopy or a ‘Gastroscopy’, without using a sedative, is performed in the clinic along with your appointment. For this you will be given a numbing spray to tolerate the passage of the scope into your gullet. This procedure takes around 7-10 minutes with no requirement for a recovery time.
Gastroscopy and /or Flexible sigmoidoscopy (limited exam of the left side of your large bowel) is also performed under light/deep sedation using sedatives and/or an anaesthetic. These need to be scheduled separately. The procedure takes around 10-15 minutes followed by a recovery time of 30 minutes.
Results are given to you immediately, unless samples have been taken and sent off to the laboratory, along with a treatment plan.
Please see the section on Endoscopy at Harmony for further information.
At Harmony, we offer the option of an un-sedated endoscopy with a throat spray to numb your throat, allowing you to have your procedure and clinic appointment in a single visit. This minimizes delays and provides an immediate diagnosis and treatment plan without long waits.
However, not everyone tolerates an endoscopy without sedation. The most common discomforts are gagging and belching. To assess your ability to proceed, we will first perform a brief throat examination after administering the numbing spray. This typically lasts around 30 seconds. If you tolerate this assessment, we can proceed with the endoscopy. However, it is important to note that this test does not guarantee you will be able to complete the procedure.
If you are unable to tolerate the procedure, we will stop the endoscopy. In this case:
You will not be charged for the procedure itself.
However, because we use high-quality disposable endoscopes that cannot be reused once opened, you will be charged for the endoscope and a few disposable consumables.
If you feel you may not tolerate an endoscopy without sedation, you may wish to consider undergoing the procedure with conscious or deep sedation. Deep sedation offers the most comfortable experience, with both a Consultant Gastroenterologist and a Consultant Anaesthesiologist ensuring your safety. However, this option is more expensive.
If you have any concerns, we are happy to discuss the best approach for you.
Any biopsies taken will be sent away to a pathology lab and the report provided to you as soon as possible, usually within 14 business days.
Biopsies are usually have an extra charge and this will be explained to you prior to procedure.
We are happy to provide you with a prescription for any medicine that you may require. However it is important to note that your GP may direct you to self-pay for the prescriptions.
We cannot prescribe certain medications from our clinic. This will be discussed at your clinic appointment and you will be directed to the right place to access the required care.
We offer blood tests at our clinic. The results will be conveyed to you as soon as they are available. Some test results take longer than others.
Unfortunately, we do not offer home visits at present.
You are entitled to care within the NHS even if you have been evaluated privately. If on evaluation, further care is required within the NHS, we will inform your GP provider to refer you to the NHS service.
If there are any concerning findings during your evaluation, every possible effort will be made to urgently transition care into the NHS.
All the doctors at Harmony are part of Multidisciplinary teams at Milton Keynes University Hospital and will present your case at the next meeting.