Community multi-bed clinic

What is a community multi-bed
clinic?

At Acupuncture Surrey we have a dream of being able to make classical Chinese acupuncture more accessible to people in our local community. We know that some potential patients are struggling with conditions that could benefit from treatment over an extended period and that this can become too costly for some. We are also very aware of the financial pressures on many in our community which can put more stress on people already struggling with health issues.

For these reasons we decided to provide a lower cost classical Chinese acupuncture service. We can do this by running our community clinic on a multi-bed model. Multi-bed clinics are becoming more common in the UK and are widespread in China.

In our multi-bed clinic you will be treated in a partitioned area of a large open hall, together with a few other patients. By treating more than one patient at a time we can reduce the cost of treatment for you. Treatment start times will be staggered so that you get at least 20 minutes at the start of your appointment with your acupuncturist. Once the needles have been inserted, the acupuncturist will move on to another patient but they will be in the same room if you need to call on them.

How long are appointments?

Your first appointment will be up to 90 minutes and will involve more one-to-one time with the acupuncturist as they will need to take a full case history and do a more detailed diagnosis including considering your body, tongue and pulse.

Subsequent appointments will be up to 60 minutes. Treatment start times will be staggered so that you get at least 20 minutes at the start of your appointment with your acupuncturist. Once the needles have been inserted, the acupuncturist will move on to another patient but they will be in the same room if you need to call on them. They will return to remove the needles and give you any post treatment advice.

What about privacy?

We take our responsibility to protect your private information very seriously at Acupuncture Surrey. During your first appointment we will spend time taking a full case history from you. This will be done away from the main treatment area to avoid other patients overhearing the conversation (although we will still be in the same hall). If you would prefer to do the case history part of the appointment by phone or video call in advance of your first appointment please let us know and we can arrange that for you.

We will need to be able to access certain parts of your body during your treatment. In most cases this will involve your legs (up to your knees), your arms (up to your elbows) and your belly. For this reason we ask that patients wear loose fitting clothing so that we can access these areas without you needing to undress.

Depending on your complaint, we may also need to access your back, hips, neck, shoulders or head. If clothing needs to be lifted or rearranged to allow access we will discuss this with you during your appointment and will have towels available to cover you.

If you have a concern about privacy please raise it when you make your appointment so that we can assess whether arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs or whether the multi-bed environment is right for you.

How much does it cost?

Appointments will be charged on a sliding scale from £25 to £40 per appointment. Your initial appointment (which is longer) will be charged towards the top of this scale. After that, the patient gets to decide how much they can afford to pay within this scale.

How do I make an appointment and what else should I know?

Appointments in our multi-bed clinic need to be booked in advance. Please only attend the clinic if you have an appointment. You can book an appointment by emailing, calling or messaging us. You will receive further information about how to find the location on booking.

Appointments are available for over 16's only.

If you are or could be pregnant please advise us before you make your appointment as your treatment may need to be adjusted.