Second opinion

What is a second opinion?

Many people feel uncertain about their diagnosis or treatment plan, and it is not unusual to want reassurance before making important decisions about your care. You may seek a second opinion if you are unclear about your condition, unsure about the treatment plan being proposed, or would like advice from a different specialist.

During a second opinion, one of our consultants will review your medical history and any existing results to provide an expert assessment. After submitting your information you will receive a written report, in as little as 5 working days.

All hospitals that make up adult and children’s services at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care have been recognised as some of the world’s best. Our consultants lead the way in treating the world’s most complex cases, from before birth to later in life. You can be assured that your second opinion will be informed by highly knowledgeable clinicians.

Who is a second opinion for?

A second opinion is for anyone who feels unsure about their diagnosis or treatment plan, or anyone who would like reassurances before making important decisions about their health. It may be helpful is you are unclear about your condition, want to explore alternative treatment options, or simply wish to confirm that your recommended care is right for you.

If a family member or carer requests a second opinion on your behalf, they must have your consent, and they should have all the information about your condition.

How to get a second opinion

You can access the expert medical opinion of our specialists by following these steps:

1. Choose your specialist: If you would like to request a particular specialist for your second opinion, please view our directory to see our wide range of experts. We can also recommend a specialist who best suits your case.
2. Contact us to register your interest.
3. Send further details: We will send you a second opinion request form to complete and return to us.
4. Receive your quote: We will contact you to confirm your second opinion specialist and the total cost.
5. Confirm and pay: If you’d like to go ahead, please arrange payment for the second opinion.
6. Receive second opinion: Once payment is received, our customer services team will get back to you in as little as 5 working days with your second opinion. The report is first sent by email, followed by a physical copy of the report and receipt of payment via post.

What information do I need to provide?

You will need to supply a thorough description of your case including why you wish to get a second opinion. Include details about your symptoms, diagnosis, medication and treatments, please also mention any other illnesses or conditions you have.

You will also be asked to provide any relevant diagnostics or scans that have been undertaken.

If your images are low resolution and poor quality, our specialist may be unable to provide you with a second opinion report. Please contact us to find out if your images are suitable. You may be recommended to repeat the imaging procedures in order to obtain higher quality images to be sent to our specialist.

Results

Once we have received your medical records and payment, you will receive your full second opinion report and supporting information in as little as 5 working days.

If it is a particularly complex case, our customer services team may contact you if the process will take longer.

Pricing

The price of a second opinion can vary between specialists. When we respond to your enquiry, we will let you know whether your preferred consultant is available and how much it will cost.