When you arrive at your appointment
Please show your appointment letter or card to the receptionist when you arrive. They will check you in and ask you to confirm your personal details, like your address and your GP’s address. It’s important this information is correct.
After checking in, please take a seat in the waiting area until the doctor is ready to see you. All staff wear name badges, but if you’re unsure who someone is, just ask.
Appointment time
Please don’t arrive more than 10 minutes before your appointment unless your letter says otherwise. We try to keep waiting times short and aim to see most patients within 30 minutes of their appointment.
Sometimes there may be delays because:
- The doctor needs extra time with other patients
- Emergency cases come in
- Doctors are delayed or called away
- Some patients arrive late
If you can’t make your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible. This way, we can offer your slot to someone else.
What to expect at your appointment
At some clinics, you may need to have tests such as an X-ray, blood tests, or a urine sample before seeing the doctor. You might also be weighed when you arrive.
During your appointment, you’ll be seen by a doctor from the consultant’s team. This may not be the same doctor if you visit more than once. If you would prefer to see a specific doctor, please let the nurse know — we’ll do our best to arrange it, although it may not always be possible.
Staff training at our hospitals
As a teaching hospital, we help train doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff. Sometimes, trainees may meet or examine patients as part of their learning. If you’re asked to take part in any training and you’d prefer not to, just let the nurse or receptionist know. Saying no will not affect your care in any way.
Being admitted to hospital
Sometimes, the doctor may decide that you need to be admitted to hospital for further treatment. They might not be able to give you an exact date, but they should be able to give you an idea of when this might happen.
Your name will be added to the consultant’s waiting list, and you may be asked to come in at short notice if a bed becomes available. If your condition changes while you’re waiting, please contact your GP. They may decide you need to be seen at the hospital again.
If you no longer need or want the treatment, please let us know so we can remove your name from the waiting list.
After your appointment
After your appointment with the doctor, you may need more tests, another check-up, or be fitted for something like a support or device.
Before you leave the clinic, please speak to the receptionist. They will explain what needs to happen next and help arrange any follow-up appointments. You’ll be given an appointment slip. This tells the receptionist if you need another appointment. If you do, they will either book it for you there and then, or we’ll send you the details in the post.
If the reception desk is closed when you leave, a nurse will keep your slip and we’ll contact you later with your next steps.
If you need medication after your appointment
If the clinic doctor thinks you need medicine or treatment, they will usually write to your GP and ask them to prescribe it. You should then contact your GP for the prescription.
If the treatment needs to start quickly, the hospital will give you a short supply — usually just enough for a few days. You’ll be given a hospital prescription, which you should take to the TrustMed Pharmacy to collect your medicine.