Patient Information Category: Arranging a consultation

How to Refer Yourself

Some patients prefer to arrange care without going through their GP.  This is sometimes termed a self-referral.  This page contains information that you may need if you wish to refer yourself for mental health care.  The link to start the process is below, followed by further information.

Woman holding mug of tea

Adult Self Referrals

To refer yourself or a family member / friend for care, please complete our self referral form. We’ll be in touch to arrange an appointment.

Self referrals
Man sat on chair in therapy session

Accessing CAMHS Services

We are currently only accepting CAMHS referred by their GP. You can find more details about how to request help and an indication of waiting times here.

CAMHS referrals

Will Your Insurance Company Cover Self Referral?

Please note that most insurance companies will not accept patients referring themselves.  If you have a health insurance policy, we advise you to contact your insurance provider for further information about their policies.

In summary:

  • If your care is funded by a health insurance policy, ensure they are happy that you self refer and will provide cover.
  • Complete the self-referral form which can be found at the bottom of the page.
  • We will be in touch to arrange an appointment

About Self Referrals

At Cardinal Clinic, we prefer patients to be referred by the GP for mental healthcare. This is for the following reasons:

  • It is recognised as being good practice
  • It ensures that we are aware of any physical health conditions that may affect your treatment.
  • If we feel medication would help your recovery, it is important that we understand other medications you may be taking.  This is to ensure anything prescribed will not affect other conditions you may be experiencing.
  • Your GP has overall responsibility for your care so it is important they are kept informed.

However, we understand that GP appointments can be difficult to get urgently at some surgeries and you may feel it is important for your well-being to seek support more quickly.  Equally, some patients may not want to discuss their mental health with their GPs.

We do accept patients who wish to self refer but it is important that those patients understand that it may be necessary to liaise with the GP regarding their care.  This is to ensure patient safety whilst receiving care from us and to ensure their on-going well-being, once discharged from our care.  We may not be able to provide mental healthcare to patients who self-refer and who do not give us permission to contact their GP.

You should also be aware that we will contact your GP with or without your permission, if we believe your safety could be at risk.  This is a legal obligation that all our clinicians are under.

If your treatment is being funded by a health insurance policy, it is unlikely that they will allow you to self-refer.  Most insurance policies require a GP to refer you in order to cover the cost of treatment.

How to Refer Yourself for Mental Healthcare

If your care is being funded by a health insurance policy, please check that they are happy with you self-referring.  It is also important to check they are happy to cover your treatment.

If you are paying for your care personally, you may want to view our fee structure before arranging an appointment.  Details can be found here:  Our Fee Structure

Please Note: We cannot accept CAMHS referrals without a GP’s letter.  If you have a letter from your GP please click the button below to understand the current CAMHS situation and to access our CAMHS service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Fees

Cardinal Clinic is a private hospital.  Our patients fund their care through a health insurance policy or by self-funding.

Funding Options

Cardinal Clinic does not have any contracts with the NHS or receive any funding from the NHS.  Unfortunately, this means that we are unable to accept NHS patients.

Our patients either fund the cost of their care themselves or the fees are paid by an insurance company.  We are recognised by all the major healthcare insurers but patient’s policies must include mental health cover.  Some patients will have private health insurance provided by their employer which we are also very happy to accept.

Private Medical Insurance

Your policy may have an excess that will need to be paid by you directly to the Clinic. We suggest you check with your insurance company for the terms of your policy as some exclude psychiatric cover or may only provide a limited amount of funding.

Please be aware that you will be responsible for any shortfalls on your insurance scheme.

For further information about organising mental health care under a health insurance policy, please click on the link below:

Receiving Care Funded By A Health Insurance Policy

Self-Funding

Many of our patients choose to fund the cost of their mental health care themselves.

All self-funding patients are required to pay a deposit before their treatment starts so that finances do not interfere with treatment and recovery.

In-patients are asked to pay a deposit of £8,175. Invoices are sent out every 10 days and should be paid on presentation. Your deposit will be offset against the final invoice at the end of treatment and any remaining funds will be refunded at the end of treatment. For further information, please contact our Finance Department on 01753 869755

Day-patients are also required to pay a deposit in advance of their treatment. The amount will vary depending on the individual programme. Our Finance Department will be pleased to provide you with more detail.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card, cash, cheque or bank transfer.

For further information about organising mental health care which is self-funded, please click on the link below:

Receiving Self Funded Care

Cost Of Treatment

The cost of treatment varies depending on the type of treatment and programme that is recommended for you.  If you have any questions or concerns, please call our Finance Department on 01753 869755; they will be happy to help.  A guide to likely costs is outlined below.

In-Patient Treatment

  • Room Rates:  £1,045 – £1,130 Per Night (Depending on Room Size)

(Room Rates include all medication and group therapy sessions.)

Further charges may be made for additional services recommended as part of your care.  These include:

  • Psychologists & Psychotherapists: £120 per session
  • Nutritional Therapist: Assessment fee £115 – £145
  • ECT (whilst an in patient) £1,200 per treatment

In-Patient Care Packages

Mental Health Package:

  • 21 day in-patient package £21,000, then £1,000 per night

We provide some fixed price care packages for our alcohol detox programmes.  More information about these can be found at the following link:  Alcohol Detox Packages

  • 10 Day Detox Package:  £10,450
  • 14 Day Detox Package:  £14,625

Day Care Treatment

  • Day Rate:  £550  (Inclusive of Consultant’s Fees)
  • 2 Day Taster Session: £725
  • 10 Day Sessions: £4595
  • Psychologist or Psychotherapist (Where Required):  From £120 Per Session

Further charges may be made for additional services recommended as part of your care.  These include:

  • Psychologists & Psychotherapists: £120 per session
  • Nutritional Therapist: Assessment fee £115 – £140

Out Patient Treatment

Out-patient consultation fees vary depending on individual practitioners but as a guideline:

Adult Consultant Psychiatrist:

  • Initial Assessment:  £250 – £450
  • Follow Up:  £150 – £300

Child & Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist:

  • Initial Assessment:  £240 – £475
  • Follow Up:  £150 – £300

Clinical Psychologist:

  • Initial Assessment:  £150 – £400
  • Follow Up:  £130 – £225

Psychotherapist:

  • Initial Assessment:  £100 – £200
  • Follow Up:  £95 – £160

ECT:

  • In Patient: £1,200

Adult ADHD Service

  • Initial Assessment:  £1,200
  • Medication Reviews and Follow Ups:  £250
  • Medication Transfers:  £400

Please note that these are our prices for the ADHD Service, for adults coming through our centre of excellence.  Where this service is provided by one of our independent clinicians, prices may be slightly different.  Please contact us if you need further information about the price that will apply to your circumstances.

All prices are subject to change. Some appointments are longer in duration and therefore charged accordingly.

Insured patients

Cardinal Clinic is recognised by all the major insurance companies and we welcome patients covered by a policy.  This maybe a private health insurance policy that the patient has personally or one which is provided by an employer.

Before Commencing Treatment

Before patients commit to mental health treatment under a health insurance policy, we strongly recommend that they speak to their insurance company and understand whether there is an excess on their policy and how much mental health care funding is provided.

Policy Excess:  This is the amount the patient must pay towards the total cost of their treatment.  Cardinal Clinic will be advised of this by the insurance company and we will invoice the patient directly for this amount.  The patient should pay this sum to Cardinal Clinic.

Mental Health Care Funding:  Many health insurance policies limit the amount of funding for mental health care.  This will normally be in the form of a total amount per year which will be paid by the insurance company.  It is important to understand this as the patient will be liable for any shortfall in the cost of their care, which is not met by the insurance company.  It is recommended that patients discuss this with their clinician to ensure that their care can be managed within these budgets.

When patients arrange their initial assessment appointment, there is certain information we will require in order to proceed.  This is as follows:

  • Insurance Provider
  • Policy Holder Name
  • Policy Number
  • Authorisation Code

Patients should contact their insurance provider to obtain the authorisation code so we can ensure that organising funding does not interfere with the patient’s recovery.

In-Patient and Day Care Insurance Arrangements

If in-patient care or day care is required, the patient’s consultant psychiatrist will write to the insurance company to obtain authorisation.  They will also liaise with the insurance company if additional care is required beyond what is initially authorised.  They will complete the forms and make the necessary arrangements for this.

Insurance Company Requirements

Most insurance companies require a referral from the patient’s GP before they will authorise treatment.  Please click on the link below for information about organising this:

How To Get A GP Referral

Most insurance companies would also expect a patient to have an initial assessment with a consultant psychiatrist.  Patients with health insurance policies may not be able to be referred directly to a psychologist.  If a patient’s GP recommends referring directly to a therapist, it is worth confirming with the insurance provider that they will provide an authorisation code for this.

Corporate Health Insurance Policies

Patients who have health insurance provided by their employer will able to be referred by the employer’s occupational health doctor rather than the patient’s GP.  The employer should be able to provide further information about accessing treatment.

Self funding patients

Cardinal Clinic welcomes self-funders, as well as those with Private Medical Insurance. The cost of treatment varies depending on the type of treatment and programme your specialist recommends.  Further information about fees can be found at the link below:

Information About Fees

All self-funding patients who are day-patients or in-patients are required to pay a deposit before their treatment starts so that finances do not interfere with treatment and recovery.

In-patients are asked to pay a deposit of £8,175. Invoices are sent weekly and should be paid on presentation. Your deposit will be offset against the final invoice at the end of treatment and any remaining funds will be refunded at the end of treatment.

Day-patients are also required to pay a deposit in advance of their treatment. Our Finance Department will be pleased to provide you with more details.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card, cash, cheque or bank transfer.

If you have any queries or concerns, our finance department will be happy to help.  You can call them on 01753 869755.

How to get a GP referral

Cardinal Clinic always prefer patients to be referred to us by their GP.  Details about how to get a GP referral are outlined here.

In summary:

  • Contact your GP and ask what their process is for referring patients to a private healthcare provider
  • Either make an appointment to see your GP to ask for a referral, or request a referral over the phone
  • Ask to be referred to Cardinal Clinic
  • Collect the referral letter and forward it to Cardinal Clinic, if your surgery does not do that for you.
  • We will contact you when we receive the referral letter

Why We Like GPs to be Involved

We ask you to obtain a letter of referral from your GP.  This is recognised as being good practice and also ensures that we are aware of any physical health conditions that may affect your treatment.

If we feel medication would help your recovery, it is important that we understand other medications you may be taking.  This is to ensure anything prescribed will not affect other conditions you may be experiencing.

Your GP has overall responsibility for your care so it is important they are kept informed.

Confidentiality

We understand that you may not wish to give the GP details of why you would like to be seen at the Clinic.  If this is the case, you can just request a letter of referral rather than explaining the reason for it.  However, the more information you are able to give us, the easier it will be for us to identify the most suitable clinician for your treatment.  This is based on clinical experience and availability.

Alternatively, we can accept patients who refer themselves.  For more information about this process, please click the link below:

Arranging a Self-Referral

Please be aware that your consultant may feel it is in your best interests for us to liaise with your GP.  If we feel this is a matter of patient safety, we may not be able to provide treatment should you not give us permission to contact them.

Referral Process

The referral process is not the same with all surgeries so it is advisable to check. You may be able to request a referral over the phone at your surgery.  Other surgeries will require a face to face appointment.  However your surgery operates, please explain that you would like to arrange for private treatment and you would like them to refer you to Cardinal Clinic.

Your GP will then write a letter referring you to us.  Some surgeries will send the referral letter directly to us.  Other surgeries will give you the letter so you can forward it on, yourself.

If you are given the letter by your surgery, you can send it to us by post addressed to the Referrals Team at Cardinal Clinic, Oakley Green Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 5UL.

Alternatively, you can email the referral to info@cardinalclinic.co.uk and we will contact you to arrange an appointment.

Open and Direct Referrals

When your GP refers you to Cardinal Clinic, they may refer you to a specific consultant psychiatrist.  This is what we call a Direct Referral.  Alternatively, they may refer you to us, but ask us to allocate you to the most appropriate consultant.  This is what we call an Open Referral.

We have no preference which type of referral we receive.  We allocate open referrals on the basis of the clinician who is most appropriate for a condition and who has the quickest availability.  Direct referrals might take slightly longer to arrange an appointment for, if the chosen clinician is very busy.

Some patients may have a particular preference for who they see.  This might be on the basis of gender or clinical experience.  You should discuss this with your GP if you have a preference.  A biography of all our clinicians can be found at the link below:

Biographies of Clinicians

 

If you have any questions about how to get a GP referral, please do get in touch and we will be happy to help.  All the details for getting in touch are at the following link:

Contact Us