FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When it comes to healthcare, finding a doctor that you can trust and work with over time is truly half the battle. Our guiding principle at Sirius Medicine ® is that understanding must precede advice and treatment. This is why we don’t deal in “problems”, we deal in diagnoses – for failing to understand the true nature of a health problem often means failing to treat it properly or to anticipate related problems. A diagnosis is not a symptom, an organ malfunction, a blood test result or something found on a scan. If your doctor cannot articulate your diagnosis, then perhaps you should speak with us.

Another tenet of clinical practice at Sirius Medicine ® is that economy breeds meaning. A well-known medical fact is that a properly conducted consultation takes us ~90% of the way to a diagnosis. Regardless of who shoulders the cost, ordering an endless array of tests is neither a sign of knowledge nor of quality of care; it often signals a lack of understanding and a desperate search for clues. If this is a recurring theme in your interactions with other doctors, then perhaps you should speak with us.

Call us old-fashioned, but at Sirius Medicine ® we believe in doing our bit and then letting you decide what comes next. This is as true for your medical investigations and treatment as it is for how often you need to see us. You will know that we have done our job well when you have the information and confidence to pursue your own priorities in life. If you’re not used to this, then perhaps you should speak with us.

If you think that you may have a hormonal problem, or have already been diagnosed with an endocrine condition, then we can help. We can also help with weight management; undifferentiated medical problems; long-term conditions usually looked after by generalist doctors; medical fitness assessments; and expert witness reports for legal proceedings.

Dr Vamvakopoulos is a General Medical Council-registered, dual-qualified Consultant in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, who has been a practising doctor since 2007. His medical career was preceded by published research work in the fields of Biomedical Science and Immunology. His medical training included substantial academic work too; he remains a clinical educator and researcher to this day. He has been Clinical Service Lead at the Manx Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism since January 2021; and Medical Professional Advisor to the Isle of Man Government’s Department for Health & Social Care since January 2023.

You may register your details with us at any time, without any obligation, by contacting our team and completing a New Patient Registration Form.

When it comes to paying for our services, we offer several options. If you are self- funding, you may pay for your consultation in advance (at booking) by debit/credit card or bank transfer; on the day by debit/credit card; or later, by bank transfer upon receipt of an invoice. After your initial consultation, you also have the option of a rolling subscription service by monthly Direct Debit (£10-£50) to help fund ongoing care.

If you have private health insurance, then you will be eligible to have our fees reimbursed by your provider.

If you are new to Sirius Medicine ® and, in particular, if we hold limited medical information about you, expect to be asked lots of questions. Completing the New Patient Registration Form in advance and bringing along your current medication prescription, as well as any other relevant information, will help focus the conversation on your present symptoms rather than on your medical history. The purpose of your initial clinic appointment is to understand your current problems in the context of a medical history that is as detailed and comprehensive as possible.

If you are returning to us, then expect your doctor to be familiar with your medical history; and the consultation to focus on developments since your last appointment. If new health problems have arisen, even if these don’t relate to hormonal issues, then we will do our best to help you.

Please come to your clinic appointment wearing comfortable clothes. Expect to have basic clinical measurements (height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry) taken on every occasion. Expect a physical examination where circumstances dictate one, in the presence of a chaperone, if necessary. Should there be a need for blood or urine tests, you may be offered the option of having blood or urine samples taken during your clinic visit for a small additional fee.