Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer remote / telephone consultations?

An initial consultation is ideal in-person and then follow-ups can be arranged either in person or via telephone / zoom. In some circumstances, where it may not be possible for us to have an initial consultation in-person, this can be arranged as a remote or telephone consultation. Please indicate which option will be possible for you when making an initial enquiry.

How many follow-ups are usually required?

A series of follow-ups (at least 2 or 3) are usually required to fully support your health and it is important to be realistic about what your investment is likely to be (time, effort & financial) from the outset. The total number of follow-ups can vary considerably from one client to another, and an estimation of how many this may be in your case can be given at your initial consultation.

It is important to recognise that it may have taken years to arrive at your current place of health and it is unlikely that this will change overnight, or after one consultation. With time and perseverance however, there is the potential for significant improvement; it is important however to understand that whilst I can support and guide you on your journey, ultimately it is you who will be making diet and lifestyle changes which can often be challenging to implement. Changing habits of a lifetime is often not easy but the flip side is that the benefits to your health can be immense. I encourage everyone to consider their readiness for this journey at the outset; I find that most people, having taken the time and trouble to find a practitioner and book in for a consultation, are ready and motivated to make changes; just the fact that you’ve got in touch tells me something about where you currently are on your health journey.

Have you supported clients with x, y or z condition before?

This is a question I get asked a lot, and honestly, whether I have previously supported clients with similar health problems before or not, is not necessarily the most important factor in determining whether we are a good fit. I use the functional medicine model in practice; which is all about getting to the root cause of health problems for each individual. And these root causes may be different from one person to the next even though they are presenting with the same symptoms. I firmly believe that working with you as an individual and delivering a completely personalised approach to your health, taking into account diet, lifestyle and even genetic factors is the best way to improve your health outcomes. Every single case is new to me, because every single person is different, presenting with their own unique health story. For each new client, I start with a blank sheet of paper, and I don’t roll out the same protocol time and again; your journey and your plan will be completely unique to you. There may be occasions where I may feel I am not the best fit for your case, and in these instances, I have a vast resource of excellent healthcare practitioners whose work I am familiar with, some with very unique specialisms, and I will always refer on if I feel your care would be best delivered by someone else. It is important to note that I do not receive any commission for these referrals.

What happens if I need additional support?

There are occasions where I may suggest that you may benefit from additional support with me working as part of a collaborative team. I have links with private GPs, consultants, personal trainers, body work and mental health specialists. Again, I do not receive any commission for these referrals this is simply motivated by what I feel is the best path forward for you.

Are your services covered by private medical insurance?

Some private medical insurers do cover nutritional support services. You will need to contact your insurer directly to see if this is the case for you.

How much will it cost in total?

As well as consultation fees, there may be supplement and functional testing costs to take into account. This is an impossible question to answer however as the total cost will vary considerably from one client to the next. It is important to be realistic however and to be aware that this is not an inexpensive service. There may need to be some amendments to other aspects of your lifestyle in order to make this happen. My personal view is that investing in your heath is the best possible investment you can make. This is not a sales pitch; it is a long-held firm belief. And the benefits of doing so can be vast, and often multiply exponentially as the ripples spread throughout entire families. That being said, I am completely aware that everyone’s financial situation is different, and please be assured that affordability and budget will always be taken into account right at the beginning of our journey together, and as part of each plan as we move forward. I encourage you however at the start of your journey, to think of ways you may be able to adapt your lifestyle to make this work; and often, when sacrifices have to be made to make this happen, the motivation to put the changes into practice increases dramatically.

Where can I get a blood draw for the functional testing you have recommended?

I recommend a wide range of functional tests in practice through a small selection of private laboratories. Most of these tests will require a sample that you can collect yourself at home (stool, saliva, finger prick blood sample). However, some of these tests will require you to take a test kit to a clinic for a blood draw, and a few may require that this sample be centrifuged before it is sent back to the laboratory.

I can arrange for a test kit to be sent to your home address but I cannot presently offer a blood draw service. This will need to be arranged by yourself at a private clinic and will incur additional costs on top of the test costs. In some instances your GP may be happy to offer this service for you, but not always.

I have found the following private clinics to provide the most helpful and straightforward service:

For a simple blood draw (that does not require centrifuge)

Pall Mall Medical (Liverpool, Manchester & Newton-le-Willows)

Contact: 03300 584455

For a simple blood draw (or one that requires centrifuge)

BMI The Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle

Mill Lane

Cheadle

Cheshire

SK8 2PX

Contact: 0161 464 3798