Your outpatient appointment

If you have been referred to one of our teams but do not need to stay overnight, you will be seen as an outpatient. Your appointment may be for a consultation, a test, or a minor procedure, and may take place in person at one of our hospitals, by telephone or by video call.

Whether you have just received a referral or your appointment is tomorrow, this page will help you know what to expect. 

— Booking your appointment

— Cancelling or changing your appointment

— Preparing for your appointment

— Attending your appointment

— After your appointment

Booking your outpatient appointment

Referrals from your GP

If your GP has referred you, your hospital appointment will be booked either through the NHS e-Referral Service or directly with our Trust.

Using the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS)

You may be able to use the NHS e-Referral Service to choose your preferred date, time and location for your first appointment. Your GP can book this while you are at the surgery, or you can book yourself:

  • On the NHS App, where you will also be able to track the status of your referral.
  • Online using the appointment request letter your GP gives you.
  • By calling the NHS e-Referral Service on 0345 608 8888, between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 8am-4pm weekends and bank holidays.

Booking directly with our Trust

If you have been referred from a health service that is not your GP - for example another hospital, an Urgent Treatment Centre or our Emergency Department - your appointment will need to be booked directly with us. We will contact you to arrange your appointment.

How we will confirm your appointment

We will send you an appointment letter to confirm the date and time of your appointment. Your confirmation will include:

  • Where to go for your appointment.
  • Any specific instructions.
  • Details of any test.
  • Any questionnaires you need to complete.
  • How to rebook the appointment if you cannot make it.

We may also send you a text message reminder seven days before your appointment, and again 24 hours before your appointment. To opt out, contact our Outpatient Appointment Centre.

You may receive your letter by post or through the NHS App. The NHS App is the quickest and most environmentally friendly way to receive appointment letters - visit the NHS digital website for a step-by-step guide to registering and using the NHS App (opens new window). The NHS App will take you to our Patient Portal called Zesty, where you can see your appointments and clinical letters.

To go paperless, log in to the NHS App, navigate to your health record or your messages/documents section, and update your correspondence preferences to opt out of physical letters.

Preparing for your appointment 

To get the most out of your appointment, it helps to come prepared.

Prepare a list of things you want to discuss, which could include:

  • Information about your symptoms
  • Any medicines you're taking - including prescriptions and anything you've bought yourself. Bring the packets or a photo if you can. You can find the list of medicines on the NHS App under Prescriptions. 
  • Any allergies you have.
  • Anything your GP has recommended you ask the healthcare professional.
  • Questions or concerns.

Cancelling or changing your appointment

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel your appointment - this allows us to offer your slot to another patient. You can do this by:

  1. Calling or emailing us using the details in your appointment letter or text reminder. If you do not have a letter, find the relevant contact details using our Service A-Z.
  2. For patients with hearing or speech impairments, textphone: 0345 850 2259.
  3. If you were referred by your GP and your appointment is for a new hospital appointment, you can also cancel on the NHS App or call the NHS e-RS appointment line on 0345 608 8888.
  4. Replying to the text reminder that you are sent seven days before your appointment, if this facility is offered by your service.

After your appointment

Your clinician will explain what happens next. Following your appointment, you will also receive a letter on the NHS App or through the post that contains a summary of your appointment and the next steps.

If you need follow-up tests or investigations

If you are on site for your appointment, where possible, we will arrange follow-up tests and investigations on the same day. If these need to be booked for another day, the relevant department will contact you with an appointment.

If you need an operation or procedure

Our Admissions Team will be in touch to confirm a date and provide any instructions you need before and after your procedure.

If you need to collect medication

We will arrange this through our Pharmacy. Visit our Pharmacy page for opening times and location or use our online map. 

If you need a follow-up appointment

You may be able to book this at the reception desk before you leave. If not, our Outpatient Appointment Centre will contact you to arrange a convenient date and time.