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Dr Sathish HarinarayananSCORT Clinic · Consultant Clinical Oncologist
07427 811120 Ask about a consultation Ask a question
Second opinion

A fresh look at your diagnosis or your plan.

A second opinion is a normal part of cancer care. Dr Harinarayanan reviews your scans and reports, listens to what you have been told, and gives you a clear view of the options, including any you have not heard about.

Ask about a second opinion
A desk with a folder of scan reports and a tablet

How it works

  1. 1

    Get in touch

    A WhatsApp message or a call to the secretary. Say what your diagnosis is and what you would like reviewed.

  2. 2

    Share your scans and reports

    The practice tells you how. Most hospitals can send images electronically with your permission.

  3. 3

    The consultation

    At Spire Southampton, or by video. Bring your questions. Bring someone with you if you can; two sets of ears help.

  4. 4

    A written summary

    You and, if you wish, your current team receive his opinion in writing, including any treatment he would suggest and where it could be delivered.

When a second opinion is worth having

  • You have been told the cancer has spread and that treatment is only about controlling symptoms.
  • You are facing surgery for rectal cancer that ends in a permanent stoma and want to know whether organ-preserving radiotherapy is an option.
  • A tumour has come back in an area that has already had radiotherapy.
  • You want to know whether MR-Linac SABR applies to you.
  • You simply want to hear it explained again, slowly, by someone else.

Common questions

Do I need my own doctor's permission?

You don't need your own doctor's permission. You can ask for a second opinion yourself. It helps if your current team knows, because they hold your scans and reports and will need to share them, and most are glad to.

What will it cost?

A new consultation is £275. If further scans or tests are needed, you will be told the cost before they are arranged. Insurers often cover a second opinion with a GP referral; check your policy.

Can it be done remotely?

In many cases, yes. Dr Harinarayanan can review scans and reports and hold the consultation by video call, wherever you are in the UK, with an in-person appointment at Spire Southampton if examination or treatment planning is needed.

Will he disagree with my current team?

Sometimes the answer is that your current plan is the right one, and that is a useful thing to hear. Sometimes there is an option that has not been discussed, such as MR-Linac SABR or organ-preserving radiotherapy. Either way, you leave with a clearer picture.

What should I bring?

Your diagnosis letter, the reports of any scans and biopsies, a list of treatments you have had, and your questions written down. If your scans are on a disc or a hospital portal, say so when you book and the practice will tell you how to share them.