You should have received a letter telling you;
If you’re not sure about your appointment, what you need to do before/bring with you, or where you need to go, please call us on the number in your appointment letter to check any details. We are here to help.
We’ll do our best to arrange an alternative time that is more suitable.
Cardiology | 01872 252018 |
Dermatology Diabetic Medicine Endocrine Gynaecology Neurology Paediatrics Rheumatology |
01736 874130 |
Gastroenterology Hepatology Respiratory and Thoracic Medicine |
01872 253300 |
Ophthalmology | 01872 252272 |
Oral Surgery Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) |
01872 252832 |
Surgery | 01872 253409 |
Trauma & Orthopaedics | 01872 758892 |
To help you remember your appointment, we have a special outpatient reminder service. You’ll receive an automated call a week before your appointment and a text message reminder two days before your appointment. You can opt out of this service if you’d prefer, please contact the number on your letter to do so.
If you are going to be late for your appointment, as long as it is safe for you to do so, please call the number on your letter to let us know. If you are more than 15 minutes late, either call or see reception when you arrive and we will let you know whether we can see you that day.
If you do not attend your appointment, we will discharge you back to the care of your GP.
If this isn’t possible, or you think you will need some help, please visit the transport and transport costs section on our practical help and advice page for more details on the support we may be able to offer. You can also find details there about travel for patients who live on the Isles of Scilly.
Please click on one of the boxes below for directions, and information on parking and facilities at each of our hospitals.
Please don’t bring any valuables with you, such as jewellery or watches, especially if your letter says you will need to remove them at your appointment. We can’t accept responsibility for these items so it’s best to leave them at home.
There are plenty of things you can do to help us, these include:
If anything to do with infection prevention is worrying you, feel free to challenge staff, they won’t mind. You can also always speak to a senior member of staff. Our infection prevention team also provides a 24-hour advice and guidance service.
Find out more about how we work to prevent infection on our quality and safety standards page.
Tell the reception staff that you have arrived and they’ll register you and show you to the waiting area.
Patients are seen in order of appointment. If you have any questions or are worried about your appointment, just ask the nurse in charge of your clinic who will be happy to help you.
Outpatient departments are often extremely busy. Although we make every effort to keep clinics running to time, there may be emergencies that cause clinics to run late. The staff will tell you if there is a delay.
At times, there may be medical and nursing students in the department. We will tell you before your consultation if this is the case. It is vital for the training of future doctors and nurses that they are able to see patients and gain valuable experience. They will always be supervised by trained, experienced members of staff, but you can request that they are not present should you so wish.
If there is anything you do not understand about your condition or treatment, please ask any member of the clinical or nursing staff.
If you need to have a procedure, the doctor or nurse will explain the benefits and risks to you, and any alternatives, before you consent to treatment. If you need an elective or invasive diagnostic procedure, we will screen you for MRSA. This is to ensure the safety of you, staff and other patients.
We’ll usually give you an estimated length for the appointment in your letter. Please remember to allow for any waiting time and that after you have seen the doctor you may be asked to go to another department for a test, minor investigation or x-ray. We suggest that you don’t make other arrangements for at least two hours after your appointment time.