Outpatients
Your outpatient appointment
You should have received a letter telling you;
- the time and date of your appointment,
- which hospital your appointment is at, and which reception you should go to when you arrive,
- anything you need to do beforehand,
- what you need to bring with 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 can’t treat an empty chairMissed appointments cost the Royal Cornwall Hospitals £4 million each year and increase waiting times for all patients. Please tell us if you can’t make your appointment.
If you can't make your appointment
We’ll do our best to arrange an alternative time that is more suitable.
Outpatient Appointment Booking Numbers
| 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 |
We cannot treat an empty chair
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.
On the day of your appointment
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 miss your appointment
If you do not attend your appointment, we will discharge you back to the care of your GP.
Can I bring anyone with me?
Chaperones and additional assistance
Travelling to and from the hospital
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.
What to bring with you
- Your appointment letter so that you know where to go and who to see
- Any medications you are taking so you can tell us about them
- Any sample we have requested (such as urine or stool)
- Money for your prescription, or your exemption certificate
- A list of any questions you would like to ask
What not to bring
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.
Preventing infection
How can you help prevent the spread of infection?
There are plenty of things you can do to help us, these include:
- Wash or clean your hands before and after visiting the hospital and always after using the toilet.
- Use soap and water to wash your hands and make sure you wash and dry them thoroughly. There are handwash sinks at the entrance to all of our wards.
- There are also hand-gel stations at the entrances to our hospitals.
- If you have symptoms such as flu, diarrhoea or vomiting or infections such as chicken pox, please do not come in because you could easily infect someone else.
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.
When you arrive
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.
Your patience is appreciated
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.
Medical and nursing students
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.
What happens at my appointment?
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.
How long will my appointment last?
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.
