North Downs Hospital is CQC regulated and provides a range of services for both NHS and private patients. If you have private health insurance, you will find that we are recognised by all major private health insurance companies. Using your private health insurance means you can choose your consultant and schedule your treatment at a time convenient to you. You also benefit from priority treatment, fast-tracked admission, an a la carte menu and a single room with en-suite facilities. Just ask your GP to refer you to North Downs Hospital and obtain an authorisation number from your insurance company. It is that simple.
North Downs Hospital also supports the NHS by providing NHS services. Any patients choosing to have their NHS treatment at North Downs will benefit from consultant led care, treatment in a small, personal hospital with comfortable facilities, low risk of infection, free parking and great food. Ask your GP if you could choose to have your treatment at North Downs or contact us for more information.
All patients at North Downs, regardless of whether they are NHS or private patients, receive the best quality of care. In most cases, your first appointment will be with a Consultant in our Outpatient Department. Prior to your appointment, you will receive a letter confirming your appointment and information on the Outpatient Department. Here, you will receive a thorough assessment which may result in further tests or another clinic appointment being required, a surgical procedure being planned or you may be discharged back to the care of your GP. The Consultant will write to your GP and you may receive a copy of this letter within seven days.
Should you require a surgical procedure, we recognise that this prospect can be daunting, especially if this is your first time in a hospital. Please be assured that all our staff are committed to making your time with us as comfortable and restful as possible. During your time in hospital, you will be looked after by a team of experts whose aim is to ensure you are cared for in an efficient and friendly environment, whilst keeping you fully informed about your treatment from your admission to the time you go home.
Care is delivered in privacy, with compassion, dignity and respect in a safe and clean environment, by a friendly, efficient team who ensure you are involved in decisions about your treatment and aim to promote your independence. We will ensure you are well-informed about your choices, provided in a way that you can understand and communicated by staff who are aware of, understand and recognise your social and cultural diversity, values and beliefs. Priority is given to good clinical practice supported by modern technology and equipment in surroundings designed to promote well-being and comfort.
We use the latest in technological advances and many procedures can now be done safely as a day procedure. This means you get the surgery you needs with less time in hospital. You can enjoy the comforts of our state-of-the-art day-case unit with first class facilities, your own private space on the unit, free Wifi and nurse-led discharge.
If you need to stay overnight in hospital, visitors are welcome to visit you at any reasonable time of the day, subject to medical considerations.
Your discharge planning will be discussed with you on admission but can vary depending on the procedure and your recovery. You will be advised by your Consultant or nurse of an approximate time that you will be ready to leave hospital so that you can make arrangements for a friend or family member to collect you and accompany you home. If you need to take any medication following your departure, you will be able to collect this from our pharmacy to take with you when you leave.
If you need to see your doctor again following your discharge, an outpatient appointment will be made before you leave or you will be notified of your appointment as soon as possible after your discharge. Following your discharge, if you have any concerns or questions or are in need of advice, you can telephone the hospital and speak to the senior nurse on duty.
At North Downs Hospital, we are committed to giving you the best possible level of service and care. We are caring, progressive, enjoy our work and use a positive spirit to get things done. We take pride in our work and actively seek new ways of doing things better. We value integrity, credibility and respect for the individual and we actively encourage patients to give us feedback on their experience at the hospital.
