Guide for outpatients

Appointments
Once you have booked an appointment with us you will receive an appointment letter. This will contain details of your first appointment, such as the date, time and where you need to go once you arrive at the hospital.

Cancelling your appointment
If you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment please let us know as soon as possible. This will allow us to rearrange your appointment and to give your original appointment to someone else. The number to call is listed on your appointment letter (all calls are charged at local rate).

Reminder:
Providing us with your details including your telephone and mobile number is really important. We may send you a text reminding you of your appointment. You will receive this a few days before your appointment is due. Please let us know when you book your appointment if you prefer that we do not send you a reminder text.

Interpretation and sign language
If you need help with interpretation or sign language services, our staff can assist you. Please let us know when you book your appointment with us.

We aim to respect your privacy, dignity and religious and cultural beliefs at all times. Please contact us if you have any special needs such as washing and praying facilities.

What you need to bring
Please read your appointment letter very carefully as it might ask you to bring certain items with you, or ask you to visit another department for tests before your clinic appointment.

Please remember to bring:

• Your appointment letter, and any other information we have sent to you. All medications you are taking, including prescription medications, medicines you have bought or alternative medicines, such as herbal remedies

• Information about any change in your personal details, for example if you have a new address or new GP

• Proof of entitlement to free prescriptions

• Proof of entitlement to free travel costs

• Any samples, as requested by your doctor or nurse

Delays
We will do our best to see you on time, although delays are sometimes unavoidable. Our reception staff will keep you informed of any delays.

Be on time
It is very important that you arrive on time for your appointment. If you are late other patients who arrived on time may be seen before you.

When you arrive
When you arrive at the hospital, please go to the main reception of the hospital and let the receptionist know you have arrived.

The receptionist will book you in and explain what will happen next. You may be asked questions about your ethnic background, including your religious beliefs. You do not have to answer these questions, but the information will help us to meet your needs. Please let the receptionist know about any changes in your personal details.

There may be limited seating in the waiting area so we request that you only bring one relative or friend with you. We make exceptions for patients with young children.

A vending machine is available, providing drinks only.

Non-smoking
Please note that we operate a strict non-smoking policy across all our sites. Visit the NHS smoke-free website or the Buckinghamshire smokescape website for more details.

During your consultation
You may see either your consultant or another doctor working in the same team. If you feel particularly strongly about seeing a female or male doctor, please let the clinic nurse know when you arrive.

The nurse may also carry out some provisional tests, such as testing a urine sample or measuring your blood pressure.

Medical students
Some of our doctors teach medical students during their clinics. If you would prefer not to have medical students present during your consultation, please inform a member of staff.

Further help and support
If you are unhappy about any aspect of your care, please speak to the receptionist or clinic nurse, who will try to resolve matters for you there and then.

If you need further help or advice, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at your hospital. Your views about our services are important to us. Your experiences will help us to improve existing services and influence our future plans. We welcome your comments.

Wheelchair access:  the main hospital reception entrance is suitable for wheelchairs. There are disabled toilets in key locations around the hospital.

Sensory impairment: signers can be arranged to help during your visit. Please call the number on your appointment letter to let us know what help you need. Please give as much notice as possible. Guide dogs may accompany you during your outpatient visit, but please give the clinic staff as much notice as possible so they can accommodate this. Please call the number on your admissions letter.

Disabled parking: parking at all of our hospitals is very limited. Although we do our best to help disabled patients arriving for outpatient appointments by car.

Please note that parking for people with disabled badges is free for all of our hospitals, either in the allocated bays close to building or in the regular parking bays elsewhere.