Have you ever called, emailed or filled out a form for us? If so, you’ve almost certainly encountered one of our fantastic secretaries, Lyn and Cheryl.
Cheryl and Lyn are the first port of call if you need to make an appointment, and they help keep everything running smoothly here. They deal with all the questions you might have about your bookings, operations and follow-ups – and a lot else besides.
With that in mind, we asked Cheryl if we could fire a few common questions at her…
Hi Cheryl, welcome to the blog. How long have you worked here at Chris Bailey Orthopaedics?
Thank you! I joined in 2015.
You work in tandem with Lyn, is that right?
That’s right. I’m based at the BMI Sarum Road Hospital in Winchester, while Lyn is at the Nuffield Wessex Hospital in Chandler’s Ford. We get on really well, and we work very closely together.
If I wanted to see Mr Bailey in clinic, how would I do that?
It’s quite easy to arrange – you can either call or email us to book, or fill out a form on the website. At Sarum Road, clinics take place every Wednesday from 5.30-8.30pm, alternate Tuesdays (8.30am-12pm) and alternate Fridays (8.30am-6pm). At the Wessex, it’s alternate Tuesdays (8.30am-12pm) and every Thursday. (1.30-6.00 pm).
And if I needed an x-ray or MRI scan, would you be able to arrange that?
Absolutely. If you haven’t had an x-ray before you come in, you can call me and if Mr Bailey is happy with this, I’ll help you to book one. It’s actually sometimes possible to get an MRI the same day as your clinic too. Once you’ve had it in the hospital, it takes about an hour to come through; you can then go through it with Mr Bailey in clinic. We can arrange x-ray-on-arrivals as well. You might come in 30mins early, have the x-ray, then see Mr Bailey. It saves you having to make that extra journey to the hospital.
Can you help people with their health insurance too?
Yes. People often ask us about this because they’re not always sure what to do. In the first instance, you need to contact your insurance company and explain the knee problem you’re having and that you’d like an appointment. They usually have a list of recommended consultants, and of course Mr Bailey is on many of those.
What happens if he isn’t?
In that case you could contact the insurance company and request to have your appointment here or at the Nuffield and if they’re happy to proceed, they’ll send you an authorisation code. This means they agree to cover your clinic visit. Sometimes the authorisation code will also cover x-rays or an MRI scan or you may need to let the insurance company know first if Mr Bailey has advised this. If you proceed to surgery or have an injection, you will often need a new authorisation code. After your visit, I can electronically invoice your insurance company.
Do you ever deal with insurance companies direct?
Quite often, yes – and I always tell patients I’m happy for their insurance company to contact me if they need to, as they might have questions for Mr Bailey about a diagnosis, for example, or the types of medication involved.
Do people ever get anxious about appointments and operations?
Sometimes, yes. But we understand that. The first thing I do is reassure them. I explain exactly what they can expect when they come in – who you’ll see, when, what happens next. I also explain how lovely the staff are here and I am sure that Lyn would say the same about the staff at the Nuffield. They’re so relaxed and approachable with patients, and that really gives reassurance. Sometimes it just helps when you can talk to someone, doesn’t it. Mr Bailey is really good with people, too. He likes to chat with our patients and he’s very easy to talk to.
Last question – what do you do when you’re not helping to run Chris Bailey Orthopaedics?
I like reading, doing crafts and walking. I also have three little grandsons; they sometimes come to stay at the weekends, which keeps me very busy! It’s a nice way to unwind after a long week. Well, it’s a different kind of “unwinding” But I love spending time with them.
Cheryl is just one of the many experts who help to keep Chris Bailey Orthopaedics running smoothly. You can find out more about Mr Bailey and his team on our website. Or you can call Cheryl direct on 01962 826107, and Lyn or Leanne on 02380 258423.
