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Religious and Male Cultural Circumcision Service

Welcome to Tower Hamlets PCT’s Religious & Cultural Male Circumcision Service. This service was set-up during January 2005 and is for baby boys who are generally fit and well between 6 weeks to 5 months, living and registered with a GP in Tower Hamlets.

Cost

As the circumcisions are for religious and cultural reasons parents are charged £100 which goes toward the basic cost of the procedure. This is paid for up-front at the 1st appointment.

How to access the service

To access the service your GP/Health Visitor/Midwife must complete a ‘parent referral request letter’ on your behalf. This letter can be downloaded by clicking on the relevant link on this page or you can contact the service asking them to send you this letter in the post.

What happens next

  • When you receive this letter you must book an appointment with your GP/Health Visitor/Midwife who can complete the form on your behalf.
  • Once the form is completed please email, fax or send it back to us (the return details are on letter). 
  • The completed form is placed in a queuing system in order of the date it was received.
  • We will contact you to let you know if we have an appointment available before your son is 5 months.

Waiting Times

There can be a waiting time of 6 weeks so in order for us to circumcise your son before our 5 month limit please send your parent referral request letter to us as early as possible.

Service Process

  • Once your completed parent referral request letter is received by the service we will contact you to book the 1st appointment and the clinic appointment.
  • The 1st appointment last half an hour where you will make payment by cash up front and will receive a receipt for this payment. You will be shown the consent DVD of how the circumcision is performed and the possible complications that can occur. Medical history will be taken for your son and family and you will be given your son’s clinic appointment letter for his circumcision.
  • The Clinic appointment can last between 2-4 hours because:
i)      You will be asked to sign a consent form agreeing to the procedure being carried out on your son;
ii)    The Nurse will perform a pre-operative health assessment, to ensure your son is fit enough to have the circumcision;
iii) Prior to the operation the doctor will inject local anaesthetic around your son’s penis;
iv) After the operation your son will be observed for an hour to ensure the operation has been successful;
v)    Finally your son will be discharged.  
  • We contact all parents on the third day after their son’s operation on the telephone to check how their son is and to give any further advice and information as needed or requested.
  • Every baby is asked back the week after the operation for a half an hour check-up appointment with the nurse or doctor.