The Oaks Hospital · Colchester, Essex
GP Referrals to a Private Gastroenterologist in Colchester
Information for GPs and practice teams referring patients to Dr Thines Karunakaran at The Oaks Hospital, Colchester. Referrals are acknowledged promptly, patients are usually seen within a week, and you receive a clear clinic letter with a plan.
Dr Thines Karunakaran
Consultant Gastroenterologist
How to refer
Email, post or telephone — whichever suits your practice. Every referral is seen by the consultant personally.
- Email my secretary at madeleine.clark@ramsayhealthpartners.co.uk
- Telephone my secretary on 07861 393237
- Post to: Dr Thines Karunakaran, The Oaks Hospital, Mile End Road, Colchester CO4 5XR
- Use your own practice letter, an NHS-style referral, or the template below
- Please include red flag symptoms, recent bloods or FIT results, and any anticoagulant therapy
Turnaround times
Referrals are acknowledged within one working day. Routine appointments are usually available within a week and urgent referrals within a few days, with endoscopy often arranged in the same week. Clinic letters reach the referring GP within a few working days; histology from biopsies takes a few weeks to come back and both patient and GP are written to once available.
Fees for your patient
New patient consultation £215, follow-up £150. Endoscopy is quoted as a hospital package by The Oaks Hospital before booking, so there are no unexpected costs. Insured patients are settled directly with the insurer where authorisation is in place.
What patients are referred for
Abdominal pain and bloating, change in bowel habit, reflux and heartburn, IBS and functional gut disorders, rectal bleeding, iron deficiency anaemia, coeliac disease, abnormal liver tests, Barrett's oesophagus surveillance, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis assessment, and prompt investigation of symptoms that could indicate upper or lower GI cancer.
Downloadable referral letter template
A simple one-page form covering patient details, funding, clinical history, red flag symptoms and medication. Complete it electronically or print it for handwriting, then email it to my secretary.
GP referral FAQs
How do I refer a patient to Dr Karunakaran?+
Email a referral letter to my secretary at madeleine.clark@ramsayhealthpartners.co.uk, or call 07861 393237. A downloadable referral template is available on this page, but a standard practice letter or an NHS-style referral is equally welcome.
How quickly will my patient be seen?+
Routine appointments at The Oaks Hospital are usually offered within a week. Urgent referrals, including patients with red flag symptoms, are normally seen within a few days and endoscopy can often follow in the same week.
When will I receive a clinic letter?+
A clinic letter is typically dictated on the day and sent to the referring GP within a few working days of the consultation, with a copy to the patient unless they ask otherwise.
How long do endoscopy and biopsy results take?+
Endoscopic findings are discussed with the patient immediately after the procedure and a report is issued the same day. Histology from biopsies usually takes a few weeks to come back, and the patient and GP are written to once results are available.
Refer a patient today
GP referrals and self-referrals welcome · Rapid appointments at The Oaks Hospital, Colchester.