A General Practioner's referral letter is required addressed to Joint Reaction, with no specified consultant name and you will be allocated to the consultant with the appropriate experience and the shortest wait to be seen.

Our main hospital is Clare Park Hospital, Farnham, where we have our own Joint Reaction Consulting Suite. However, the majority of members of Joint Reaction also consult at the Parkside Suite at Frimley Park Hospital. Information about appointments can be obtained from the secretaries to the members of Joint Reaction.

MRI scanning can be useful in diagnosing orthopaedic problems. In many cases however clinical examination aided by X rays may be enough to diagnose the problem.

Many orthopaedic problems simply require physiotherapy to help resolve them. However there are many conditions, such as advanced arthritis, that are not helped by physiotherapy or other complementary therapies and in these cases we would discuss surgical options at the time of the initial consultation.

Joint Reaction surgeons operate at Clare Park Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital, The Guildford Nuffield Hospital and the Hampshire Clinic. However, not all surgeons operate at all four hospitals.

Private health insurance is not required. Increasing numbers of people are self payers for both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

If surgery is required and you are not insured then a fixed price quote can be given by the hospital. For more details go to the hospital website or telephone to speak to the Bookings Office.

It is possible to transfer to the NHS at any stage of your treatment. However, no priority is given to you over other NHS patients.

We aim to keep our fees within insurance company guidelines so you do not find you have a 'gap' to pay. Individual secretaries will be able to advise on the likely costs of treatment with each consultant.

This obviously varies on the type of surgery performed. But to be discharged you must be fully mobile, self caring and able to walk up and down stairs safely.

The final decision on discharge is made via the nursing staff, physiotherapist and treating consultant.

Joint Reaction has links with many groups of local physiotherapists. It is usually more appropriate to be treated by your local physiotherapist as this avoids long journeys in the post operative period.

This depends upon the type of surgery performed, but will generally be between 2 and 6 weeks. Follow up appointments are made by the secretary of your treating consultant.