Can I bring a chaperone?
You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you. Please be aware that children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Unfortunately, step-parents/grandparents or other family friends/relatives are not legally entitled to give consent for a child’s treatment, which is why they must have their parent or legal guardian with them.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments varies from patient to patient and condition to condition. We discuss our prognosis at each appointment and keep you involved in the discussion. Our goal is to get you back to doing the things you love as soon as possible. If you have a history of recurrent problems, or a particularly strenuous job or hobby we may recommend long term maintenance treatments. Depending on the individual this could range from once a month to once every six months.
Does it hurt?
Some parts of treatment can feel tender or uncomfortable, especially with an acute injury. However, our practitioners are very experienced at dealing with painful problems and will keep discomfort to an absolute minimum. Your therapist will discuss your treatment with you and ask for your consent at every stage. We will provide clear and easy to understand information to help you make the right decision for your healthcare. You can decline to consent at any stage, and this will be respected. You should always let us know if you are in pain so we can adapt your treatment appropriately. You may feel a little sore after treatment; this is a healthy and normal reaction, but if you are concerned you will always be welcome to get in touch with your practitioner to ask for advice.
Do I need to see my GP first?
You do not need to see your GP before you attend The Courtyard Clinic. Osteopaths and Podiatrists are Primary Healthcare Practitioners, which means they are trained and qualified to not only diagnose and treat conditions within their area of expertise, but also to triage for any other health issues and refer to the appropriate healthcare professional as needed.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
We do have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Late cancellation or no-show appointments will be charged in full. If you need to cancel an appointment for any reason, please contact us as soon as possible via email or call 01621 842750.
Do You Take Medical Insurance?
Unfortunately, we don’t take insurance payments. However, we have found that some insurers will reimburse for a certain number of treatment sessions every year on submission of a detailed receipt (which we are happy to provide). We recommend that you check with your provider to see if this is something allowed on your policy.
How do I know who I should see for my problem?
Our team are all highly qualified, but we all have our own approaches and specific areas of interest. You can ask our reception team about our team’s specialisms when you book and they will ensure that you are seen by the person most appropriate for your symptoms. We have a close and highly collaborative team at The Courtyard Clinic, so if we feel that you are best seen by a different team member we will say so and move you over to them.
Do I need a Chiropodist or Podiatrist?
There is no difference between a Chiropodist and a Podiatrist. These days they are essentially the same profession. “Podiatrist” is the more modern term. Historically, they were called chiropodists, but the name changed to podiatrist around 1993. Both professionals have the same qualifications and experience, and they both treat foot and ankle issues.
What should I wear?
If you have booked for Osteopathy or Massage Therapy, you may be required to partially undress (depending on your problem) so please wear suitable underwear. Alternatively, you could wear shorts and a vest top or other light/loose fitting clothing which we may be able to work around. You may wish to bring a towel or blanket to use as a modesty covering when you are being treated. If you are attending for podiatry/chiropody, no towel is necessary.
Is the clinic accessible?
We have one treatment room downstairs and two treatment rooms upstairs. There is a very small step at the clinic entrance that most wheelchair users seem to manage without difficulty, but we do have a ramp that we can assemble if that is a problem. Please get in touch with our team if you have any specific concerns regarding access to the clinic, and if you have trouble with stairs please request the downstairs treatment room when you book.
Do you have parking?
We don’t have any onsite parking, but we are only a very short distance from the White Horse Car Park at the top of Fambridge Road, which is where we recommend you park.
