Outpatients
At the point of receiving a referral for a specialist opinion, the referral is triaged by a clinician who decides on clinical priority and whether the consultation should take place face to face (usually when an examination or same day investigations are required), by video or telephone.
We aim to ensure we value both patient and clinician time to ensure you are seen at the earliest opportunity in the most effective way, minimising the need to travel wherever possible, whilst maintaining high standards of care.
The Trust has made a commitment to achieving Net Zero (carbon neutral) by 2030. Since the middle of 2020, the changes made to delivering outpatients through introduction of video and telephone consultations have saved over 2,017 tonnes, equivalent to 677 flights from London to New York City.
Ask your clinician if a video or telephone appointment is suitable for your management.
The delivery of carbon neutral will increase through the introduction of Patient Hub to electronically communicate appointments, thereby avoiding having to send appointment letters in the post.
Help us achieve this by accepting your appointments online within 24 hours, when invited to do so, to avoid further reminders and save us sending a paper copy in the post.
We are also committed to reducing the number of wasted appointments – currently 35,000 appointments are not attended each year, leading to longer waiting times for everyone and loss of £124 on average for each missed appointment. Help us to help everyone by letting us know if you cannot attend your appointment and need to rebook or no longer need our care.
Your outpatient appointment
You should have received a letter or telephone call telling you:
- The date and time of your appointment
- Anything you need to do beforehand
- Your appointment type: Face to Face (including location), Video or Telephone
- What you need to have with you for your appointment
If you do not have a letter and need further information, please call 01872 255037.
If you can’t attend and need to rebook or cancel your appointment
If you can’t attend your appointment and need to rebook
If you cannot attend your appointment due to the time/date or because of the type of appointment you have, please let us know as soon as possible by calling the number on your appointment letter (or the relevant number detailed below) and we will arrange an alternative day/time and/or appointment type that is more suitable.
If you no longer need the appointment
Please let us know at the earliest opportunity if you no longer need an appointment; this will allow us to offer the appointment to another patient.
If you miss your appointment
If you do not attend your appointment, your clinician will decide if you should be offered another appointment or be discharged back to the care of your GP.
It is important that we use all available appointments to reduce our waiting times – help us to help everyone by taking a note of your appointment and please rebook or cancel if you cannot attend, even at short notice.
Outpatient Booking Department Telephone Numbers
- 2 Week Wait: 01872 252323
- Audiology: 01872 253747
- Breast Imaging: 01872 252880
- Breast Surgical Outpatients: 01872 252880
- Cardiology: 01872 252018
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrom (CFS, ME): 01872 252935
- Chemical Pathology: 01872 253300
- Clinical Imaging: 01872 252290
- Colorectal: 01872 253409
- CT Scans: 01872 252290
- Dermatology: 01736 874130
- Diabetic Medicine: 01736 874130
- Dietetics: 01872 252409
- Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT): 01872 252832
- Endocrine: 01736 874130
- Gastroenterology: 01872 253300
- General Surgery: 01872 253409
- Gynaecology: 01736 874130
- Haematology: 01872 252501
- Hepatology: 01872 253300
- MRI Scans: 01872 252290
- Nephrology: 01872 253300
- Neurology: 01736 874130
- Occupational Therapy: 01736 758846
- Ophthalmology: 01872 252272
- Oral Surgery: 01872 252832
- Paediatric Surgery: 01872 253409
- Paediatric Urology: 01872 253409
- Paediatrics: 01736 874130
- Pain Management: 01872 253409
- Physiotherapy: 01736 758846
- Post Covid Service: 01872 252935
- Rehabilitation: 01872 253300
- Respiratory: 01872 253300
- Rheumatology: 01736 874130
- Speech and Language Therapy: 01872 252470
- Trauma and Orthopaedics: 01736 758892
- Ultrasound: 01872 252290
- Upper GI: 01872 253409
- Urology: 01872 253409
- Vascular: 01872 253409
- X-Ray: 01736 758851
