International patients.

Why patients come to MHW from abroad

The UK’s medical system — both NHS and private — is one of the most strictly regulated in the world. Doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), our clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), our patient data is protected under UK GDPR, and our medications are regulated by the MHRA.

Patients travel to us for:

• A second opinion on a diagnosis received at home
• A comprehensive health check (our Health MOT, ECG, blood profile, ultrasound)
• Specialist consultations — cardiology, dermatology, ENT, gastroenterology and others
• Continuation of treatment started abroad
• Aesthetic, hair restoration, or minor surgical procedures
• Mental health assessment — ADHD, anxiety, depression — with a UK-registered psychiatrist
• Investigations not readily available, or unaffordable, in their home country
• A clinic where English is the working language and the consultation feels unhurried

We’re an outpatient clinic with a primary and specialist care focus. We do not offer inpatient stays, intensive care, complex surgery requiring general anaesthesia, or oncology treatment. If you need any of those, please tell us at the booking stage so we can guide you to the right setting.

For patients travelling from the Gulf

MHW Clinic regularly sees patients from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain — both Gulf nationals and the South Asian and Arabic diaspora living in the region. Direct flights from Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh land at Heathrow within seven hours, with the City of London then twenty minutes away on the Elizabeth Line.

What patients from the Gulf most often book:

• Hair transplantation — FUE and DHI in a CQC-regulated UK setting, an alternative to Istanbul or domestic clinics. Our Surgical Lead is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register.
• Mental health and ADHD assessment — private and confidential, with no record going to any home-country authority or insurer.
• Comprehensive Health MOT — full bloods, ECG, ultrasound and lifestyle review in a single 2-hour visit.
• Second-opinion consultations — specialist review of a diagnosis or treatment plan received elsewhere.
• Women’s health and HRT — private menopause clinics, sexual health, gynaecology — in a setting where some patients prefer the cultural privacy of a UK clinic.

Arabic-speaking support. We have Arabic-language reception support available by request. Our website translates into Arabic via the language picker (top of every page), and clinical correspondence can be provided in English with an Arabic summary on request.

Receipts and documentation. We issue itemised invoices in English with VAT-compliant detail suitable for submission to international insurers (Bupa Global, AXA Global, Cigna International, Allianz Worldwide Care, Vitality Global). For self-pay patients, receipts include all detail required for tax or reimbursement claims in your home country.

Privacy from home jurisdictions. Your records are held in the UK under UK GDPR, in Pabau (ISO 27001-certified clinical management system). We do not share clinical information with any third party without your written consent. This is particularly relevant for patients seeking mental health assessment or sensitive treatments where home-country records would not be appropriate.

Planning your visit

The earlier you book, the better — this is especially true for specialist consultations and any service that requires a specific clinician or sequencing of tests.

• Book online in advance at our booking page or contact us directly to discuss what you need.
• Allow time — if you need blood tests, ultrasound, ECG and a discussion of results, that’s typically 2-3 visits across 2-5 days. Tell us what you’re hoping to achieve and we’ll plan a realistic schedule.
• Bring previous records — in English where possible. If they’re in another language, we may need to arrange translation, which can take a few days.
• Tell us about your travel plans — we’ll work around your arrival and departure dates so nothing’s rushed.

Visa & entry to the UK

You may be able to enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for up to 6 months for medical treatment, depending on your nationality. Some patients need a specific medical visitor visa. We are not immigration advisors and we cannot issue visa letters that overstate the case.

For visa guidance, please check:

• UK Visas & Immigration: gov.uk/standard-visitor
• The UK embassy or consulate in your country
• An OISC-registered immigration advisor if your case is complex

We can provide a confirmation-of-appointment letter on headed paper once you’ve booked and paid for your consultation. We cannot guarantee or sponsor your visa.

Languages and interpreters

Our working language at the clinic is English. Several of our clinicians and reception team also speak other languages — just ask when you book and we’ll try to match you.

If your preferred language isn’t available in person, we can arrange a telephone interpreter for most languages through a professional interpreting service (LanguageLine or equivalent). This is a three-way phone conversation between you, the clinician and the interpreter. It works well for consultation, history-taking, consent discussions, and explaining results.

There is no charge to you for the interpreter service; it’s included in your consultation fee. Please tell us at booking which language you’d like the interpreter for, so we can arrange it in advance.

You’re also welcome to bring a family member or friend to interpret informally if you prefer — but for sensitive clinical conversations (mental health, sexual health, anything involving consent for a procedure), we recommend a professional interpreter for accuracy and confidentiality.

What to bring

• Your passport — for ID verification at every appointment
• All previous medical records — clinic letters, hospital discharge summaries, imaging on CD or USB, blood test results. In English ideally; if not, a sworn translation if available.
• Current medications in their original packaging — the box and patient information leaflet help us identify the active ingredient and dose. (UK brand names sometimes differ from those used abroad.)
• A list of allergies and adverse reactions — particularly to medications, anaesthetics, contrast dye, latex, and food
• Insurance details if claiming — an international policy with UK cover, including the insurer’s 24/7 number and policy number. Pre-authorisation may be required — please arrange before your appointment.
• The name and contact details of your home doctor — so we can write to them with your consent

During your visit

Consultations and investigations work the same way as for our domestic patients — we’ve described the typical flow on our first-visit page. The main practical differences for international patients are:

• We allow extra time for history-taking, especially if an interpreter is involved
• We sequence tests so results are available before you fly home where possible
• We provide a full written summary of each consultation in English, which you can take to your home doctor
• We give you copies of any imaging or scans on a USB stick before you leave

After you return home

Continuity of care is important — especially if a treatment plan started in London needs to continue in your home country.

• Written communication to your home doctor — with your consent, we send a detailed clinical letter to your home doctor or hospital so they can continue your care.
• Video follow-up consultations — available by arrangement after you return home, via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Particularly useful for reviewing results, discussing next steps, or checking in after a procedure.
• Email contact for non-urgent questions — replies within 1-2 working days
• Test results — we will get them to you wherever you are. Standard blood tests are typically back within 48 hours.

Please note: a video consultation is not a substitute for in-person care when one is needed. If you develop new symptoms or any urgent concern after you go home, your first call should be to a local doctor or your country’s emergency services — not to us.

Paying

All prices are in British pounds (GBP). We accept:

• Visa, Mastercard, American Express — including foreign-issued cards (your bank may charge a foreign-transaction fee)
• Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Bank transfer in advance, by arrangement, for larger fees
• Major UK and international health insurers — please confirm cover and pre-authorisation with your insurer before travel

For UK domestic insurers we accept Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, WPA. International insurers vary — please contact us with your policy details and we’ll confirm whether direct billing is possible or whether you’ll need to pay and claim back.

All current prices are on our Fees page. Costs for tests and any additional investigations are quoted before they’re done — no surprises.

Where to stay

We don’t arrange accommodation, but Whitechapel and the surrounding areas have a wide range of hotels at every budget. The clinic is on the Elizabeth Line, which connects directly to Heathrow Airport (about 45 minutes) and central London (5-15 minutes).

Patients often choose to stay near:

• Whitechapel / Aldgate — closest to the clinic, walking distance
• The City / Liverpool Street — one stop on the Elizabeth Line, business hotels
• Canary Wharf — 10 minutes by Overground, modern hotels and restaurants
• Shoreditch — characterful boutique hotels, lively neighbourhood, 15 minutes

Common questions

Quick answers to what international patients ask us most often. If your question isn’t here, please WhatsApp or email us — we respond within one working day.

How to start

The easiest first step is to email us at info@mhwclinic.co.uk with:

• A brief description of what you’d like to be seen for
• Your country of residence and intended dates of travel
• Any previous diagnosis, test results, or treatment
• Your preferred language (if not English)

We’ll respond within 1-2 working days with a suggested plan and a quote, and we’ll book your appointments to fit your travel dates. You don’t need to pay until your appointments are confirmed.