What to expect

Before your appointment

Changing or cancelling your appointment

If you wish to cancel or rebook your appointment, please call 020 3313 5000. Please let us know as soon as possible. 

Getting to your appointment

Visit our getting to hospital webpage, for information on:

• how to get to our hospitals 
• parking information
• information for people who need support to travel either due to their clinical condition or mobility
• support with the cost of travelling to hospital

Waiting for your appointment date

If you have been referred through the two week wait pathway, your appointment will be normally within two weeks of the referral.  

If your referral is not urgent, you will need to wait longer for an appointment. Waiting times can vary, but you can expect to wait approximately 18 weeks. You can read more about waiting here. 

Waiting for your appointment when you arrive at hospital  

When you arrive at hospital, you can normally expect to wait 30 minutes for your appointment. However, waiting times can be shorter, or longer.  

You first appointment will take approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Any follow-up appointments will be slightly shorter

You can bring someone with you to your appointment

We encourage you to bring a partner, relative, close friend or carer to your appointments. It can be difficult to remember all of the information we discuss with you, including clinical advice. 

They can attend the endoscopy unit, but they cannot need to enter the procedure rooms. 

We can also provide you with a chaperone if you would like one. The person would usually be healthcare assistant (HCA). 

What to bring with you

Please bring any medication you are taking to your appointment. 

Before having surgery or treatment  

Before any surgery or treatment all patients must have an outpatient appointment and a pre-surgery assessment so that we can:

• review your condition and symptoms
• complete any tests
• discuss treatment options with you
• discuss anything you may need to do before your surgery, such as fasting or stop taking certain blood-thinning medications.

If you are running late for your appointment

If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, we may not be able to see you.  

Please call us on 020 3313 5000 if you are running late. 

During your appointment

When you arrive at hospital

When you arrive at the clinic, please visit reception to check in. You will need to confirm your contact details and GP information.  

Please arrive ten minutes before your appointment.  

Who you will see 

At your appointment, you will be seen by your consultant, another doctor or a nurse.

All staff will wear name badges and introduce themselves to you.   

If you feel strongly about seeing a female or male doctor, please let a member of staff know when you arrive. 

Some of our hospitals are teaching hospitals. This means that doctors may be teaching medical students during their clinics. If you would prefer not to have medical students in the room during your consultation, please inform a member of staff.

Consenting to treatment  

You must sign a consent form before conducting any treatment. We will provide you with information in the consent form and offer you a copy, and we will discuss the choices of treatment with you. If you change your mind at any stage, you are entitled to withdraw consent, even after signing. 

Read more about consenting to treatment

Procedures  

You may need to have a blood test at your appointment. We may need to examine your bowel and bottom. All other tests and investigations will need to be booked and carried out on a different day.  

Privacy policy 

During your appointment, data is recorded about you on paper and electronically. We will need to collect personal information, contact information, health information, diagnoses, and other information which allows us to provide healthcare. 

Wi-Fi 

Free Wi-Fi will be available at your appointment. To connect, select ‘NHS Wi-Fi’ from the list of network names on your device. Read and accept the terms and conditions of use on the next screen, and then automatically join the network.  

After your appointment

Before leaving 

We encourage you to ask questions at your appointment. 

You and your healthcare professional will work together to make decisions about your care.

Before you leave your appointment, please make sure that you understand:

• What your diagnosis is or what might be wrong
• Which treatment is best for you
• Whether you need any further tests
• Whether you need to book a follow up appointment at reception
• What will happen next

Prescriptions 

If you have been given an outpatient prescription at your hospital appointment, you will need to take it to the outpatient’s dispensary within the hospital. 

Prescriptions issued by our hospital clinics will usually provide a four weeks’ supply of medication.

Follow up appointments 

Following your appointment, you will be sent an outcome letter. Further tests and a follow up appointment will be arranged if it is needed.