General FAQs
Yes, eXroid® electrotherapy is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for UK patients, and has been evaluated to be an effective method for treating grade 1-3 haemorrhoids.
It is also used as an alternative to surgery for treating larger haemorrhoids, and we are working to NICE guidelines to support the development of further evidence and research on the effectiveness of the treatment for grade 4 haemorrhoids.
Electrotherapy for haemorrhoids is a treatment that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has evaluated and recommended for UK patients (source NHS.UK).
From 1st April 2019, the NHS has implemented restrictions in the scope of its services which means that over 17 procedures will only be funded by the NHS in exceptional individual circumstances. The list includes:
Breast reduction;
Removal of benign skin lesions;
Grommets for Glue Ear;
Tonsillectomy for sore throats;
Haemorrhoid surgery;
Hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding;
Chalazia (lesions on eyelids) removal;
Removal of bone spurs for shoulder pain;
Carpal tunnel syndrome release;
Dupuytren’s contracture release for tightening of fingers;
Ganglion excision – removal of noncancerous lumps on the wrist or hand;
Trigger finger release;
Varicose vein surgery
Where possible, we’re doing all we can to support patients appeal their referrals, and we’re here to help where the NHS are unable to cover treatment.
We advise patients to review the ‘limited procedure lists’ which their local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will provide directly or on their website and contact us for advice and help where needed.
Please call us on 0800 999 3777 for more information and advice.
There may be occasions where the patient has been, or is experiencing pain on the day of the appointment. If a digital or proctoscopic examination proves too painful, it will not be possible for a full and proper assessment to be carried out. In this instance, undergoing an eXroid treatment will not be possible. The pain may be due to other conditions which can have similar symptoms to internal haemorrhoids, such as an anal fissure or a perianal haematoma, which can cause pain when the anal canal is opened during the examination stage.
If your haemorrhoids are thrombosed and/or you are experiencing a flare up of your symptoms on the day of your appointment, you may also find it too uncomfortable to have the treatment or be able to start, but not complete the treatment. Please note, if treatment commences but is not completed, the treatment cost is non-refundable.
We would also advise against having the treatment if you have any of the below conditions:
Pregnancy
Pacemaker and / or defibrillator implant
Bleeding disorder
Anticoagulant therapy with Warfarin where the INR is greater than 3.0
Active anorectal infection
Inflammatory bowel disease (incl. Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis)
Lower abdominal / lower quadrant transplant patients
Purely external haemorrhoids
Megacolon
Please call us on 0800 999 3777 for more information and advice.
eXroid clinics are for the assessment and treatment of internal haemorrhoid disease only. Our doctors may advise further if any other diagnoses are found at the time of your examination and they may take on any prescribing duty or onward referral advice as appropriate, but this will be outside of and separate to their eXroid responsibilities and undertaken as part of their ongoing duty of care.
SKIN TAG REMOVAL: We can now offer anal skin tag removal in London. To find out more, please take a look here.
Yes, if you decide not to go ahead after your examination we will refund you the cost of the procedure.
Please call us on 0800 999 3777 and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Please note that cancellations less than 72 hours before the appointment may result in a cancellation fee. See Legal notices and Terms of Use.
Yes, we can now offer a new service for patients who wish to treat their anal skin tags (sometimes called sentinel piles). This service does not use the eXroid electrotherapy technology. Take a look here or contact the team to understand how this treatment and service works.
Our partner clinics operate independently of eXroid’s main company. However, they are fully approved to provide the same eXroid treatment and follow the same clinical protocols and standards of care. Patients can be reassured that whether they choose to book directly with a partner clinic or arrange their appointment through eXroid, they will receive the same clinically proven treatment, delivered to the same high standards with consistent quality, safety, and patient care throughout. The only difference you should expect is that the booking process and patient aftercare are managed directly by the partner clinic rather than the eXroid team.
Pricing & payment FAQs
A first consultation, proctological examination and procedure costs £1,195. For any following procedure the price is £795. For information about homecare service please contact us on 0800 999 3777.
Pay monthly for your treatment from as little as £75 per month, with our 0% finance. No hidden fees. Click here for more information.
If your treatment cannot go ahead for any reason after the initial consultation & proctological examination, the treatment portion of the fee will be refunded (£830); the consultation fee (£365) is non-refundable.
Please note, these prices are for self-pay patients only. Specific fee agreements exist for privately insured patients, therefore if you have a limit on your insurance policy please check fees with your insurance provider at the point of obtaining pre-authorisation. For more information, please click here
You can book your appointment via our website here or alternatively if you would like to speak to an advisor, you can either contact us using our online chat service or call us on 0800 999 3777.
Pay monthly for your treatment from as little as £75 per month, with our 0% finance. No hidden fees. Click here for more information.
We’ll take full payment at time of booking. We accept all major debit or credit cards including American Express.
Please note that cancellations less than 72 hours before the appointment may result in a cancellation fee. See Legal notices and Terms of Use.
Please call us on 0800 999 3777 for more information and advice.
Absolutely, we have partnered with Buyline, who offer 0% finance options, meaning you can choose to pay for your treatment over 6-11 months, with monthly repayments from as little as £75. Find out more here.
We are working with 2 major UK private healthcare insurers – BUPA & WPA. To find out how to have your eXroid treatment covered by your policy please contact us for more information and to help organise individual arrangements. Your insurance company may need a treatment code for electrotherapy, which is H5260.
Please call us on 0800 999 3777 for more information and advice.
We’re working with all major health insurers to enable your insurance to cover our treatment. When you ring for a talk or to book an appointment, we will advise whether your insurance will cover an eXroid treatment. Your insurance company may need a treatment code for electrotherapy, which is H5260. See Payment Terms.
If you choose not to get treated or you are not suitable for the treatment, your treatment portion of the payment made will be refunded to you. We will retain the £365 consultation fee. If you have internal haemorrhoids but cannot be treated on the day for whatever reason, we will call you (usually within 48 hours of your appointment) and transfer the remaining funds to another future appointment. PLEASE NOTE: If you cannot be treated on this second appointment a further £365 fee is due and will be deducted from the transferred funds. This means you will pay 2 x £365 (£730) for the two consultations and the remaining funds will be returned to you.
All refunds are sent to our accounts team, who aim to process them within 2-3 working days.
CARD PAYMENTS
If you paid by card, once your request is actioned by our accounts team, it may take up to 5-10 business days for funds to reach your bank account, which is dependent on your bank. You will receive a credit note email as well as a refund notification email once the accounts actions are complete – please look out for these and check junk folders in case.
BANK TRANSFER PAYMENTS
If you paid via a bank transfer, please ensure you have confirmed your bank details to the patient services team. You will receive a credit note email once the accounts team actions are complete – please look out for these and check junk folders in case. The funds usually land immediately, but please check and let us know if there are any issues.
Haemorrhoid Severity Score FAQs
At eXroid, our GMC registered consultants use the Haemorrhoid Severity Score (HSS) with every patient during appointments, to help understand the symptoms as well as how severe they are. The HSS is one of the most accepted scoring systems for understanding the symptoms of haemorrhoids and is used widely by medical specialists, especially Colorectal Consultants. Tracking the score over time – especially before and after treatment – is essential to gaining more insight into how the disease and its symptoms change and develop, which again, can be unique to the individual.
We believe the more understanding there is of this disease the better-informed sufferers can be, helping them to feel reassured and confident in managing this condition and when to take action.
This is why we are offering every sufferer the opportunity to “take the test” and start the journey to better understanding their symptoms.
You can take your test by clicking here
Look out for your results email including your downloadable eCAT® tool. The eCAT® tool will help you and your GP or health care professional discuss and document your symptoms effectively, following an examination.
You can download an eCAT® tool by clicking here
The score is out of 15 and generally any scores of 1-2 are considered as “mild”, 3-6 as “moderate” and 7+ as more “severe”.
This is just a guide though and even lower scores can present as symptomatic and feel as bad as someone with a higher score. The scores act as a guide to allow you to track and understand changes in your symptoms over time and the tool has been designed to allow you to become more aware of these changes, rather than to diagnose you with any condition specifically. In all instances of pain and bleeding we advise you to be seen by a GP or specialist. Please see below some advice depending on your current score.
Before Haemorrhoid Treatment FAQs
No, we’ll take care of everything for you and we’ll even write to your GP afterwards to let them know. Please call us on 0800 999 3777 for more information and advice
Yes, all of our medical staff (Doctors) are General Medical Council (GMC) registered Consultant Surgeons and are exclusively trained and accredited as eXroid® treatment specialists to use our CE approved equipment. Only specialist trained eXroid® clinicians are able carry out the procedure.
No, you don’t need to do anything before your treatment.
During haemorrhoid treatment FAQs
The eXroid treatment itself is not usually associated with significant pain relating to the current delivered, however, some patients have described pain associated with aspects of the treatment, which we have described further below. All information has been gathered from the thousands of treatments we have carried out, from our patient feedback surveys.
Pain relating to the insertion of the proctoscope: Some patients do find the process painful relating to the insertion of the anoscope/proctoscope (a hollow plastic tube), which allows access to the base of the internal haemorrhoid, where the eXroid treatment site is located. Topical numbing cream can be administered to help with this discomfort, as well as guided breathing techniques, to help relax the muscles, to allow for an easier insertion. Occasionally, during the treatment, the muscular anal canal can go into spasm (a bit like a cramp pain) as the body tries to push out the anoscope. Using relaxation techniques, guided by the treating doctor, can help patients to relax during the treatment which, in turn, can help to ease this discomfort.
Pain related to other conditions present: Patients who have other conditions present (more specifically fissures) can find the examination and proctoscope insertion more painful, due to the fissure being present. A few patients do present with both haemorrhoids and fissures at the same time and the doctor would advise as to whether it is appropriate to proceed with an examination and onto treatment if a fissure is present. This will depend on the relative tolerability of the initial digital examination and proctoscopy, prior to proceeding with an eXroid treatment, if appropriate.
Pain relating to the electrical current: There are usually very few nerves at the eXroid treatment site (situated well above the dentate line), so sharp pain is not usually experienced, rather it has been expressed by some as a dull ache. The intensity of this ache can be managed by the treating doctor by adjusting the current to a tolerable level for the duration of the treatment. The doctor will talk to you during the treatment to manage this to suit you, as well as to get the best possible treatment outcome.
For most patients the treatment is not painful, but for a small number of patients (based on patient feedback data) it can be more unpleasant and/or painful. However, our eXroid Practitioners can help find a solution to manage any pain or discomfort by using various techniques during the treatment process and will tailor the treatment to the individual’s needs. Patients can also choose to take a dose of paracetamol 1-2 hours before the treatment (typically 2 x 500mg tablets), to help minimise the discomfort during the procedure.
Compared to more invasive surgical techniques, the eXroid electrotherapy treatment is the least painful procedure by far, and any discomfort felt during the procedure, typically resolves immediately or by the next day, compared to surgical techniques that often result in prolonged down-time and pain for some weeks following the procedure.
Please call us on 0800 999 3777 for more information and advice.
It can take up to 10 minutes for each haemorrhoid, or up to 30 minutes for one session treating 3 piles. An initial consultation and treatment takes 45 – 60 minutes.
Please be aware that the treatment can take up to half an hour with you lying on your side. If you have any back or hip issues we will aim to keep you as comfortable as possible during this time
Yes, we will always make sure there is someone there for you.
After haemorrhoid treatment FAQs
This is usually possible for most. For some patients, a short recovery time may be required and, for a small percentage (actually 11%) one or more days is sometimes required.
Yes, it is possible that you will need more than one treatment. From the data we have received from our patients who have previously had eXroid treatment, about half require one treatment to get symptomatic relief and the other half will need further treatment(s). There is a tendency for those with higher grade haemorrhoids and for those having had them for a longer duration, to need more treatment sessions to achieve symptomatic relief.
No, it is not possible to predict with any certainty that you will need one or more treatments following an initial examination. There is a tendency for those with narrow-based haemorrhoids (irrespective of grade) to need fewer treatments and for those with broader-based haemorrhoids to need multiple. However, the number of treatments cannot be guaranteed or predicted, as we cannot predict how a patient will heal, nor what factors might affect if haemorrhoids might increase in size again or for new ones to appear elsewhere following a treatment and what timeframe over which this might occur. It is important that any factors that might be contributing to having haemorrhoids are addressed, such as prolonged sitting, constipation, heavy lifting etc. If these factors are not addressed, there is an increased risk of additional treatments being needed and of new haemorrhoids developing. This is true with all treatments used for haemorrhoids, including banding, radiofrequency, THD, stapling and haemorrhoidectomy etc.
From the data we have collected from our patients, symptoms improve from immediately post treatment up to 4 weeks later, with very few getting improvements beyond 4 weeks. This is the reason we call and send a post-treatment assessment to our patients at the 4 week time point, as this allows us to review progress and consider if a further treatment might be needed if symptoms are still present. We typically recommend that this is planned within 6-8 weeks of the initial treatment, as there is the suggestion that leaving it for longer periods, may allow any remaining haemorrhoids to start to increase in size again.
There are different reasons why that might be the case. For example, if the haemorrhoids have only partially responded to a given treatment, by treating these again sooner rather than later, it will shut down the feeding blood vessels more effectively, allowing the haemorrhoid to reduce further and then hopefully to disappear. The longer the gap between treatments, the more chance that by having to strain to pass a stool, this will increase the blood flow, opening up the blood vessels and increasing their size once again. This can lead to recurrent or worsening symptoms. The goal is to shrink the haemorrhoids as efficiently as possible, so that there is no haemorrhoid obstructing the passing of a stool, meaning that you do not need to overstrain for appropriate evacuation. In other words, the longer you leave it between treatments (if you have remaining symptoms) the greater the chance you will lose the progress made.
Common haemorrhoid questions
Anal skin tag FAQs
No, other than sharing part of their alternative name, “sentinal piles”(anal skin tags) are not the same as haemorrhoids.
Unlike the electrotherapy treatment for haemorrhoids, the removal of anal skin tags can be painful during recovery. During the procedure a local anaesthetic is used, meaning you should not experience pain on the day of your treatment. Advice on how to manage your symptoms post recovery will be advised.
Your consultation appointment needed to assess suitability costs £250 and must be with the same consultant that carries out the procedure and will be completed before booking your treatment appointment. The cost of treatment is £1,675 inclusive of one skin tag and histology. If more than one are present, each subsequent skin tag will be an additional £150.
Can’t find the answer to your question? Why not call the Patient Services team, who will be happy to help? 0800 999 3 777
eXroid®: fully regulated and accredited
Our service has been evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) who have produced two sets of approval guidelines which accredit the treatment as safe and effective (IPG525 and MIB201). eXroid is a registered and regulated service Provider with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as we strive for the highest levels of care and service standards.
The eXroid service is also PCI DSS compliant, giving both financial assurance and security to our patients when they make their payments with us.
Why choose the eXroid® haemorrhoid treatment
Fast
The eXroid® treatment takes 30 minutes or less. Effects can be felt from immediately and no waiting for a referral
Specialist
The procedure is supported and carried out by the UK's leading specialist consultant surgeons in CQC registered clinics
Safe
The eXroid® procedure is low risk, as it requires no anaesthetic, cutting or stitching
Convenient
Get back to your life straightaway, with no time off work needed after the eXroid® procedure
Approved
eXroid® electrotherapy is subject to NICE guidance (IPG525 & MIB201), is rated as Outstanding by the CQC and carries the CE mark