What to Expect

Private Consultant Psychiatrists

Private Psychiatry was founded in 2008 by Dr Adrian Winbow following many years working in the NHS and in private practice. Prof Tony Hale joined the practice in 2016. There is a small, friendly team of medical secretaries based at our main office at Orchard House in Leigh who support Dr Winbow and Prof Hale. Caroline S and Caroline F are pleased to answer any questions you may have, talk you through the registration process, and if you decide to go ahead, arrange an appointment for you with either Dr Winbow or Prof Hale at a clinic location to best suit you.

We understand that reaching out to a psychiatrist can be a daunting step, especially if you have never done so before. We pride ourselves on being caring, understanding and discrete, and want all our patients to feel comfortable the moment they come under our care. We provide a secure and relaxed atmosphere to encourage patients to feel at ease.

We accept referrals from GPs, but it is not strictly necessary to have a GP referral to see one of our consultant psychiatrists.

Consultations

First appointments with one of the psychiatrists are usually one hour in length and are always done face to face (remotely via video during the Covid-19 pandemic). Any follow-up appointments may be shorter in length and in some cases, can be done over the telephone.

At the initial appointment, the consultant psychiatrist will undertake a thorough assessment of your problems, propose a plan to treat and manage them and discuss the next steps with you. You will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns in detail in a relaxed and secure environment. You may, if you wish and if appropriate, take a friend or relative with you into the consultation room.

All consultations are completely confidential. If you wish your GP to be kept informed of your care with us, a letter summarising any diagnosis and proposed treatment will be sent to your GP. If you prefer that your GP is not involved, we will of course abide by your wishes.

Where required, further investigations and tests will be arranged, this may include a referral to another mental health professional, such as a therapist, who will be able to provide specific therapy if this is felt to be appropriate by the psychiatrist. Regular follow-up reviews with the psychiatrist will be arranged at appropriate intervals to continue to ensure that you receive the best possible care. Follow-up appointments are usually for half an hour, although longer appointments are available if you and your consultant agree that is necessary.

Prescriptions and Payment

Our consultants can issue private prescriptions if they feel you would benefit from medication, or we can contact your GP to request an NHS prescription. First prescriptions are included as part of your first consultation, but repeat prescriptions are charged at £30.

Payment for appointments is in advance and can be done over the phone via most of the major credit cards or via BACS. If you have private medical insurance and your insurer has agreed to pay for your treatment, please have your authorisation code ready to provide to us when booking your appointment.

We regret that we are unable to treat patients under the age of 18.

Therapy

If you require psychological help or talking therapies, we will be happy to arrange sessions with a suitable therapist.

We can recommend a variety of therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), counselling, hypnotherapy, drama therapy, art therapy, Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), addictions therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, anxiety management and anger management.