Frequently Asked Questions

Dr Singh assesses and treats a broad range of rheumatological conditions, including inflammatory arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, vasculitis, lupus and other connective tissue diseases, osteoporosis and soft-tissue disorders.

As a consultant also trained in general internal medicine, he regularly assesses complex or multisystem symptoms that do not fit neatly within a single diagnosis. This may include unexplained inflammation, abnormal autoimmune blood tests or combinations of joint symptoms, fatigue, rashes and other systemic features.

Please visit the Conditions I Treat page for further information.

A referral from your GP or another specialist is recommended but is not normally required to make an appointment. A referral can provide useful medical background and helps maintain communication between the clinicians involved in your care.

If you are using private medical insurance, your insurer may require a referral before authorising the consultation. Please check the terms of your individual policy before booking.

Yes. Second-opinion appointments are available if a diagnosis remains uncertain, symptoms have not been fully explained, treatment options need reconsideration or you would like an independent review of an existing diagnosis.

Please provide relevant clinic letters, test results and imaging reports in advance. Complex cases or those involving substantial previous records may be better suited to an extended diagnostic consultation.

Private outpatient appointments are available at:

• The Physicians’ Clinic in Marylebone

• Chiswick Outpatients in West London

• The Lyndhurst Rooms at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead

Virtual consultations are also available when clinically appropriate. Further details, including addresses and directions, are available on the Clinics & Hospitals page.

Yes. Consultations can be conducted by secure video or telephone when appropriate.

Face-to-face appointments are usually recommended for new patients because physical examination can be an important part of rheumatological assessment. Virtual consultations may be particularly helpful for follow-up appointments, reviewing results, discussing treatment or where travel is difficult.

If an examination or procedure is required, an in-person appointment may subsequently be recommended.

Appointments can be arranged through Dr Singh’s personal assistant or booked online.

Carebit can be used to book face-to-face and remote consultations. Appointments at The Physicians’ Clinic and Chiswick Outpatients can also be booked through HCA Healthcare.

If you are uncertain which appointment type or location is most suitable, please contact the practice before booking.

If you need help with your booking or any other queries, please contact Dr Singh’s PA directly.

Routine appointments can usually be offered within one week, subject to availability.

Clinically urgent referrals can often be accommodated on the same or next working day. If another clinician considers the referral urgent, it is helpful for them to contact the practice directly and provide the relevant clinical information.

Dr Singh’s private practice is not an emergency service. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 999 or attend an emergency department.

A standard new-patient consultation lasts approximately 30 minutes and is suitable for most rheumatological problems.

An extended diagnostic consultation of up to 60 minutes is available for complex presentations, extensive previous investigations, multiple specialist opinions or a detailed independent second opinion.

The practice can advise which appointment is most appropriate if you are uncertain.

Where available, please provide your referral letter, previous clinic correspondence, recent blood-test results, imaging reports and an up-to-date list of medications and allergies.

A short summary of when your symptoms began and how they have changed can also be helpful. Documents can be uploaded securely through the Carebit patient portal or sent to Dr Singh’s personal assistant by email.

Please do not send detailed medical information, test results or clinical photographs through WhatsApp.

Dr Singh will take a detailed history, review the symptoms that are concerning you and consider your wider medical background. Previous test results and imaging will be reviewed, and a physical examination will usually be performed during a face-to-face appointment.

Where possible, Dr Singh will explain the likely diagnosis or the principal possibilities during the consultation. If further investigation is required, he will explain what is being requested, why it may be helpful and how the results will be reviewed.

You can read more on the What to Expect page.

Blood tests and X-rays can usually be performed on the same day, depending on the clinic and the investigations required.

Ultrasound or MRI scans can often be arranged promptly and may sometimes be available during the same visit. Availability cannot be guaranteed and some investigations will require a separate appointment.

Tests and scans may involve additional charges. Insured patients should check whether separate authorisation is required before proceeding.

Dr Singh is recognised by all major UK private medical insurance providers.

Before attending, please ask your insurer to confirm that your consultation is covered and obtain a pre-authorisation number. An insurer’s recognition of a consultant does not necessarily mean that every consultation, investigation or treatment is covered by an individual policy.

Patients remain responsible for costs that are not covered by their insurer.

Yes. A referral is not usually required for self-pay appointments, and fees are provided in advance.

Current consultation charges, procedure fees and payment arrangements are listed on the Book an Appointment page.

Investigations, imaging, medication and procedures may incur separate charges, which will be explained where possible before they are undertaken.

Please provide at least one full working day’s notice if you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.

Late cancellations and non-attendance currently incur a charge of £150, which is not normally reimbursed by medical insurers. The full cancellation policy is available on the Book an Appointment page.

Yes. A clinic letter summarising the consultation, assessment and agreed plan will usually be sent promptly, often on the same day.

A copy will also be sent to your GP, referring clinician or other healthcare professionals involved in your care where appropriate, helping to maintain continuity and avoid unnecessary duplication of investigations.

Private prescriptions can be issued when clinically appropriate.

Medication may be collected from the in-house pharmacy at The Physicians’ Clinic, delivered to your home through Pharmacierge or prescribed electronically for collection from a local pharmacy, depending on the medication and circumstances.

Medication and dispensing charges are separate from the consultation fee. Requests for prescriptions outside an appointment may also incur an administrative charge.

Yes. WhatsApp can be used for administrative enquiries such as appointment availability, fees, clinic locations, insurance authorisation and what information to provide before your consultation.

Messages are monitored seven days a week, usually between 6am and 11pm, but an immediate response cannot be guaranteed.

WhatsApp should not be used for emergencies, urgent clinical advice or sending detailed medical information, photographs or test results unless specifically requested. If you need urgent medical assistance, contact NHS 111, call 999 or attend an emergency department as appropriate.