Administrative FAQs

Can a practitioner choose their own time & date slots on OC?

Yes, this can be done on your personal OC practitioner portal- go to ‘Setting- Scheduling’.

What happens if the practitioner is unavailable on the day when a clinic is booked?

It remains the practitioner’s responsibility to ensure that the OC admin are notified about unavailability at least 3 weeks in advance, on the days that they have opened clinic slots.

If cancellations have to be made as a result of last-minute clinic changes, then the practitioner is held liable and will incur financial penalties, similar to the patients’ cancellation policy. These deductions will be made from that month’s invoice.

In case of emergencies or illness, we request that evidence is provided for the same. Admin staff will be able to inform you about the exact evidence required.

How will the patients know that I am not available face to face whilst booking an appointment?

Unfortunately, we are not able to help with this in most cases as your contract is with the insurance company and they would not share your information with us. Please get in touch wth your insurance company to get an approval for consultations with any practitioner on the roster of Oaktree Connect.

Do you accept medical insurance companies for children?

Please provide our admin staff with the insurance details and we wiil write to the insurers to check with them if they will cover the costs of the consultation or not. If the insurers agree to cover the fees, then we will approve the consultation.

Do you accept medical insurance companies for adults?

We do accept the majority of insurance companies, however please call pur helpline number +44 0121 314 3456 to find out if your insurance will cover your treatment within the clinic.

How do I pay for an appointment?

You can pay for your appointments by debit or credit cards. We accept private medical insurance funding too. In some cases, third parties like your employer, educational institution or social services may fund your private healthcare. You would have to contact your GP/ employer/ social worker to enquire about these forms of funding.

How long is the appointment for an assessment with a psychiatrist?

The length of your assessment will vary depending on the type of assessment conducted, they typically span from 1 hour to 90 minutes. However, for specific assessments, please contact us for more information.

You can have an overview of the various type of appointments on our Fees Page.

Are all of your clinicians DBS checked?

All of our clinicians hold enhanced DBS certificates as well as personal indemnity insurance.

Do you have a waiting list for appointments?

We do not have a waiting list. We try our best to see everyone within 7 working days for all specialities. Unless you have private health insurance, in which case we would have to obtain an authorization from them prior to approving an appointment with a practitioner. Please call us on 0121 314 3456 in order to enquire about availability.

Psychological Trauma in over 60s

Author: Dr Kavita Das

Consultant Older Adult Psychiatrist

Across the globe, demographics have gone through a change, with the number of older people rising as a result of improved lifestyle and medical services. Unfortunately, the availability of services in the UK, especially in mental health, have not responded proportionately to this change.

Some older adults may experience mental health difficulties. One such mental disorder is posttraumatic stress disorder, PTSD, which can occur or recur late in life. Some have lived through a lifetime of trauma apart from that due to major conflicts including WWI and WW2, epidemics, financial meltdowns, and personal loss. Being from India, I heard stories about people living under a foreign regime and then the vivid descriptions and narratives of the trauma endured by those who survived the partition into India and Pakistan. It is therefore to be expected that the prevalence of PTSD in this age group will be expected to be high.

However, given that this generation is hesitant about displaying or even discussing emotion, much of it remains unreported. There is also the issue about a lack of awareness and understanding of mental disorders that stand in the way of detection, treatment, and care. The cases that do come to our attention are merely the tip of the iceberg.

PTSD presents with feeling ‘on edge’ all the time, experiencing flashbacks and/ or nightmares of the trauma suffered, and avoidance of any circumstances or events that may remind the person of the trauma. Apart from the distress these symptoms cause, they can reduce day-to-day functioning significantly.

Professionals working with older adults require special understanding and skill to assess and treat this distinct group. This is due to the age-related factors such as bereavement, loss, loneliness, role changes, physical illness, and sensory impairments, to name just a few, which can interact with psychiatric symptoms and carry implications for care.

If you are affected by similar issues or know of somebody who is, please do not hesitate to seek professional help.

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Psychological Trauma in over 60s

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