Transparent pricing
Fees & payment
— no surprises
Private paediatric care with clear, upfront pricing. Our consultation fees cover the consulting room and clinic facilities, administration, and the doctor's time and expertise. We invoice most insurers directly and are happy to break down any additional costs before they are incurred.
Consultation fees
Clear, upfront pricing
All fees cover the doctor's consultation time. Any additional investigations or treatments are explained and costed separately before they are arranged.
Vaccination Consultation
Review & administration
- Immunisation record review
- Catch-up vaccinations
- Flexible vaccine options
- Vaccine schedule planning
- Travel vaccination advice
Well-Child / Initial Consultation
45-minute consultation
- Comprehensive health assessment
- Developmental milestone review
- Full physical examination
- Personalised health plan
- Written consultation summary
Follow-Up Consultation
30 minutes — in-person, video, or phone
- Results and test review
- Treatment plan updates
- Face-to-face, video, or phone
- Referral letters if needed
- Same clinician continuity
What's not included: Consultation fees cover the doctor's time only. Any additional investigations — blood tests, urine culture, imaging, or allergy testing — are arranged through a laboratory or hospital and invoiced separately. We will always explain the likely cost and reason before ordering any test.
Late Cancellations and Do Not Attend: If you fail to turn up to an appointment or cancel less than two working days prior to the appointment you will be charged. Unlike the NHS we have to bear the cost for booked rooms, admin. costs and lost revenue. The current charge is £120 and this will rise to £200 in the autumn of 2026.
Insurance & payment
How would you like to pay?
We accept all major private health insurers and welcome self-pay patients. We invoice by email.
Private health insurance
Our paediatricians are recognised by all major UK private health insurers:
- We invoice most insurers directly — upfront payment required for Cigna, Aetna & Allianz
- Confirm your cover before booking
- Pre-authorisation always required before your appointment is confirmed
- Some insurers require a GP referral letter
- Policy excess is paid by you, to us, separately
Self-pay
No insurance? No problem. No referral is required — simply book directly and we'll invoice you. Pre-payment may be required
- Well-Child / Initial Consultation 45 minutes £320
- Follow-Up Consultation 30 minutes — in-person, video, or phone £260
- Vaccination Consultation Review & administration £170
- Invoice sent by email
- Payment within 7–14 days
- BACS bank transfer or online card payment
- No hidden fees — all additional costs discussed first
Using Your Health Insurance
How to Pay via Insurance
We accept all major UK health insurers. Here is everything you need to know from checking your policy to receiving your reimbursement — in one place.
Before You Book
To keep your appointment running smoothly, a small amount of preparation makes a significant difference. Most delays in insurance claims happen because a pre-authorisation number is missing, or a GP referral has not been arranged in advance.
If you are unsure whether your policy covers paediatric outpatient consultations, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card it takes around five minutes.
What to Have Ready Before Booking
- Insurance policy number Found on your policy certificate or insurer's app
- Pre-authorisation reference Call your insurer before booking to obtain this
- GP referral letter Required by most insurers for specialist consultations
- Excess amount Check how much of any excess you are responsible for
- Insurer's claim form Optional some insurers require this for reimbursement claims
- Previous medical records Optional but helpful for the consultation
Step-by-Step: Using Your Insurance
Check Your Policy
Confirm outpatient cover for paediatric specialist consultations. Note your excess and any annual limits.
Get a GP Referral
Ask your GP for a referral letter addressed to us. Most insurers require this before approving a claim.
Pre-Authorise
Call or log in online with your insurer to obtain a pre-authorisation reference number before your appointment.
Book With Us
Book your appointment and provide your insurer name, policy number, and pre-authorisation reference.
Attend & Consult
For direct billing insurers, no upfront payment is needed. Bring your policy documentation to the appointment.
Invoice & Claim
We email you a detailed invoice. For non-direct billing, submit this to your insurer with any required claim form.
Typical Pre-Authorisation Timelines
Timelines below are approximate and based on standard online or telephone applications. Complex cases or incomplete referrals may take longer. Always allow extra time before your appointment.
Bupa
24-48 hours
Online via MyBupa or 0333 920 8820. Immediate approval often available for routine outpatient referrals.
AXA Health
24-48 hours
Online via AXA Health member portal or 0800 003 004. Fast-track available for urgent paediatric referrals.
Vitality Health
24-48 hours
Online via the Vitality app or 0345 601 0072. Decisions often made same day for standard referrals.
Aviva
2-3 working days
Online via MyAviva or 0800 158 3048. Allow extra time if your GP referral was recently issued.
Cigna
2-4 working days
Via Cigna member services or your employer's HR portal. International plan holders may take longer.
WPA Healthcare
1-2 working days
Online via mywpa.co.uk or 01823 625 000. Pre-authorisation often straightforward for specialist outpatient.
■ Green border = typically 24-48 hours ■ Orange border = typically 2-4 working days
Not listed? We work with all major UK and international health insurers. Contact us and we will confirm your insurer's requirements.
Documents You Will Need
- Insurance policy certificate or membership card
- Pre-authorisation reference number from your insurer
- GP referral letter (addressed to Dr Gray or Dr Burmester)
- Photo ID (passport or driving licence) for new patients
- Completed new patient registration form (sent with booking confirmation)
What We Provide for Your Claim
- Itemised invoice with CCSD procedure codes (required by all UK insurers)
- Consultant's medical report or clinical letter, if requested by your insurer
- Diagnosis and treatment summary on your clinic letter
- Receipts for any investigations or procedures carried out
- Supporting documentation for onward referrals or follow-up care
Common Insurance Questions
Yes we offer direct billing for Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, and Vitality Health members. This means we submit the invoice directly to your insurer after your appointment, so you only need to pay your policy excess (if applicable) rather than the full consultation fee upfront.
For insurers not listed above, we will provide you with a full itemised invoice that you can submit yourself for reimbursement. Most claims are processed within 5-10 working days once received by your insurer.
Pre-authorisation (also called pre-approval or pre-auth) is written confirmation from your insurer that they will cover a specific treatment or consultation. You obtain it by contacting your insurer before your appointment, giving them the name of the consultant and the reason for referral.
Almost all UK insurers require pre-authorisation for specialist outpatient consultations. Attending without one may mean your claim is declined, even if your policy covers the treatment. We strongly recommend always pre-authorising, even for follow-up appointments.
A GP referral letter is required by most insurers and is best obtained from your child's registered GP. If your GP is unavailable quickly, we recommend using an online GP service such as Push Doctor, Livi, or your NHS GP's urgent appointment line.
If you would like to book on a self-pay basis while awaiting a referral, we are happy to see your child and provide a retrospective referral request note for your GP to counter-sign. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Some policies have a recognised fee schedule that is lower than the consultant's fee. If this applies to your policy, and we do not have a fee assured agreement with your insurer you will be responsible for paying the difference (known as a shortfall) plus any policy excess. Policy excess is generally payable annualy for all policies. You are required to pay us the excess on behalf of your insurer.
We will always provide you with a fully itemised invoice so you can see exactly what you are being charged. If you are unsure about shortfalls before booking, ask your insurer: "Does my policy cover the full consultant fee, or only up to a recognised fee schedule?"
Most comprehensive outpatient policies cover diagnostic investigations such as blood tests, urine tests, and standard X-rays when they are requested by a recognised specialist consultant. However, coverage varies widely by insurer and policy level.
Before your appointment, ask your insurer whether investigations ordered by the consultant are included in your pre-authorisation, or whether a separate pre-authorisation is needed. We will always give you the option to authorise any additional investigations before they are carried out.
For direct billing, payment is settled between us and your insurer usually within 20 working days of submission. You will not need to pay anything (beyond your excess or shortfall).
For patient-reimbursement claims, you pay us on the day and then submit our invoice to your insurer. Most UK insurers process reimbursements within 5-15 working days of receiving a complete claim. Ensure you include your pre-authorisation reference, our invoice, and any claim form your insurer requires to avoid delays.
Payments
Whether you're paying privately or using health insurance, we make it simple. Here's how it works.
Not sure? Our reception team can check your cover and advise you before you book.
Policy
Before booking, confirm your policy includes paediatric outpatient consultations.
- Log in to your insurer's app or call the member helpline
- Check you have outpatient specialist cover
- Note your excess and any co-payment amounts
Pre-Authorised
Call your insurer to get a pre-authorisation number before your appointment.
- Call the number on your insurance card or use their app
- Quote your GP referral details and the specialist's name
- Most insurers respond within 24–48 hours
Once pre-authorised, you're ready to book. On the day, just arrive — we handle everything else.
- Book online or call reception — share your auth number
- Bring your referral letter and insurance card
- We verify your cover at reception on arrival
- After your visit, we send your invoice direct to your insurer
Billing
No surprises — our fee structure is clear upfront and all payments are simple and secure.
- Consultation fees quoted clearly on our fees page — no hidden charges
- Itemised invoice emailed after your appointment
- Pay by card or BACS bank transfer via your invoice — simple and secure
- No referral or pre-authorisation needed — just book directly
After your appointment we send your invoice to your insurer and manage the claim. Any shortfall or policy excess not covered by your insurer remains your responsibility and is payable directly to Bright Futures Health.
Common questions
Fees & payment — FAQ
Ready to book?
Expert paediatric care,
when your child needs it
Same-week appointments are often available. No referral required for self-pay patients. Call us or book online and we'll take it from there.
