Outpatient appointments

Before you arrive

Please read your appointment letter carefully to make sure you know where your appointment is taking place, but if you are unsure ask at the main reception desk.

We recommend allowing at least two to three hours for your appointment; longer if you are also coming for tests.

What to bring with you

• Your appointment letter
• Any medicines you are taking (prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal)
• A list of questions to ask
• Your mobile number and contact details
• Your GP’s name, address and phone number
• Any specimen(s) you were asked to bring
• Any mobility or hearing aids, and spectacles

Do you need an interpreter?

Telephone interpreters are available if you speak little or no English. If you need a face-to-face interpreter, please let us know at least seven days in advance by phoning the number on your appointment letter.

Outpatient Clinics

At the clinic

When you arrive, you will be required to check in with either with the receptionist or clinic nurse. You will be asked to confirm your contact information and GP details.

Some appointments will require you to see a nurse to measure your height, weight, have urine analysis and some testing. You should be advised in your appointment letter should you be required to bring any specimens with you.

Waiting in clinic

Seating space in our clinics is often limited so if you need someone to accompany you, please try to limit it to just one relative or friend. Delays can occur but our staff should always tell you the reason. If you have a special reason why waiting is difficult, please let us know. If you feel concerned about your waiting time, speak to the clinic nurse or receptionist.

In some outpatient areas, multiple specialty clinics run alongside each other, and it may appear that some patients may be seen more quickly than you. Please be assured that this would be due to the timings of other clinics within the area, but everyone is seen in order of their appointment time, not in order of their arrival.

How the clinics work

Each clinic has its own routine and a team of medical, nursing, therapy and clerical staff. If you have any queries or need advice regarding your treatment, the clinical staff, including specially trained nurses, will be happy to advise you.

To help you identify staff, ID badges are worn giving everyone’s name and occupation along with their photograph.

Every patient is under the care of a consultant, but you may be seen by another doctor in the team, who will discuss your medical condition and treatment with you.