Outpatients

Many of our outpatient appointments are held in clinics at our hospitals, while others are held virtually via phone or video. Please check your appointment letter or text message for details about your appointment.

Contacting our appointment booking team

If you have a question about your appointment, or would like to cancel or change your appointment, you can contact our booking team between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday by calling 020 3313 5000. Alternatively, you can email us at i.outpatientappointments@nhs.net. 

We are continuing to ensure all patients referred to us, or on our waiting lists, are prioritised by clinicians according to their clinical need, which is based on an assessment by your clinical team.

Anyone who is on an urgent pathway for a possible cancer diagnosis will continue to be seen as quickly as possible, almost all within two weeks.

If you have not received a text message or phone call from us cancelling your appointment, it will go ahead as per the instructions in your appointment letter. Your letter will explain if your appointment is via phone, video or face-to-face. We are taking every precaution to keep patients who are coming into hospital safe. 
 
If we have contacted you to postpone your appointment, we will be in touch with a new appointment date as soon as we are able to. 

If you are worried about your health, or if your condition deteriorates, please contact your GP or call NHS 111. If you need urgent or emergency care at our Trust, you should continue to access the support you need.  

Can I bring someone with me to my appointment?

Please click here to read our current visiting guidance. 

Wearing face masks in hospital 

You are not required to wear a face mask in most outpatient, maternity or diagnostic waiting areas. However, you are required to wear a mask in clinical treatment rooms and in inpatient areas.

Our staff will let you know if you are in an area where you still need to wear a mask. Read our Covid-19 guidance to learn more. 

Telephone or video outpatient appointments

Some patients will need to come up to hospital for outpatient appointments while others will be asked to attend their appointments by video or phone. Please check your text reminder to see which sort of appointment your clinician has planned for you.

If possible, your doctor will aim to call you within an hour of your scheduled appointment time. You do not need to let us know in advance if you would like a telephone consultation but you should contact us if you would like to reschedule your appointment.

If you miss the telephone call, or are not able to answer the call, your doctor will review your notes, write a letter to you and your GP and make follow up arrangements as necessary.

ONLINE VIDEO CONSULTATIONS - HOW TO GUIDE 

Text message reminders

All patients with a mobile number on our system will receive text reminders for their appointment.

For some appointments, you can reply CHANGE or CANCEL to ask for the appointment to be changed or cancelled. This will save you having to telephone the hospital. You will see a link to in the text, where you can find a list of your upcoming appointments. Sign in by entering your name, date of birth, and postcode. You can also sign in any time by visiting http://my.drdoctor.co.uk/login/ich In this case. we will send a one-time code to your mobile phone for added security. 

Appointment letters

All patients with a mobile number or email address on our system will receive a message with a link to view their appointment letter. This will allow you to see your letter more quickly than by post. Patients who prefer to have their letters posted can reply PRINT. You can also sign in any time by visiting http://my.drdoctor.co.uk/login/ich and entering your name, date of birth, and postcode. In this case, we will send a one-time code to your mobile phone for added security. 

COMING TO HOSPITAL FOR A PLANNED PROCEDURE OR SURGERY 

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Preparing for your hospital appointment

Your referral

NHS e-Referrals

Our services use NHS e-Referrals (previously known as Choose and Book) to manage referrals to many of our clinics. This means that when your GP refers you to a consultant for your first outpatient appointment, they will use NHS e-Referrals to do so.

Many services offer the opportunity to select the date and time of your appointment. In that case, your GP may ask you to select the date and time of your appointment while you are in the practice. Alternatively, your GP may give you a booking reference number and password so you can book your appointment at home.

Some services – including some cancer and cardiology services – are referral assessment or triage services. This means our team of consultants will review the referral from your GP to ensure you are given an appointment at the most appropriate clinic for your needs. In that case, the service will contact you to arrange an appointment.

Our services can be very busy, so it may be that there are no appointment slots available to book. In that case, your GP will submit your referral to the appropriate service without selecting an appointment slot. The service team will contact you to arrange an appointment.

If a service needs to contact you to arrange an appointment, you can expect to hear from them within two working days for cancer services, and five working days for standard services. Visit NHS Choices for more information about e-Referrals.

Other referrals

Some of our clinics are not available to book on e-Referrals. In that case, once you’ve been referred to us, you’ll receive a letter via email or post with all the details of your appointment, including date, time, location and where you need to go when you arrive. Please check you are able to come to your appointment and let us know if you can’t. If you don’t let us know, you may not be offered another appointment.

Once you’ve been referred to us, you’ll receive a letter via post or email with all the details of your first hospital appointment, including date, time, location and where you need to go when you arrive. Please check you are able to come to your appointment and let us know if you can’t. If you don’t let us know, you may not be offered another appointment.

If you currently receive your appointment letters in the post, but would rather receive the information by email, you can use one of our self-check in kiosks when you next come to hospital to give us your email address. If you change your mind you can always revert back to posted letters by following the instructions in the email we send you.

If you are coming in for diagnostic tests, please read any information we’ve sent to you with your letter. We will give you any special instructions you need to follow before your test, such as fasting the night before.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

It is important you are able to attend your appointment. If you need to change or cancel your appointment or you have any of the symptoms of Covid-19, please ring the department number in your appointment letter as soon as possible.

Coming into clinic

You are welcome to bring a loved one, friend or carer to your outpatient appointment.

We recognise carers play a vital role in supporting patients’ communications needs – particularly where a patient has dementia, learning disabilities and/or autism. We can provide carers with a ‘carer's passport’ so that each patient’s main carer can be identified easily. 

As always, when coming in to our hospitals:

  • do not come if you have any symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as flu or Covid-19
  • use hand sanitiser or wash your hands as you enter the hospital and when entering and leaving any department
  • follow any local infection prevention and control measures, as advised by staff and signage
  • you are always welcome to wear a mask if you wish to do so, even where it is no longer a requirement

Consenting to treatment

We want to make sure that you fully understand your condition and the different treatment and care options available to you. Before you receive treatment, your doctor will explain the treatment plan including the benefits, risks and alternatives. Please ask your care team if you have any questions.

Appointment reminder

If you have given us your mobile number or land line number you will receive an automated phone call reminder approximately seven days before your appointment. You will be asked to confirm your identity and then listen to the details of your next appointment. You will be given three options: confirm, reschedule or cancel the appointment. If you select reschedule or cancel you will be put through to a member of staff in our central booking office who will help you with this.

If you have given us your mobile number or land line number you will receive an automated phone call reminder approximately seven days before your appointment. You will be asked to confirm your identity and then listen to the details of your next appointment. You will be given three options: confirm, reschedule or cancel the appointment. If you select reschedule or cancel you will be put through to a member of staff in our central booking office who will help you with this.

If we have your mobile number we will also send you a text reminder approximately two days before your appointment.

You can give us your mobile phone number when you come to clinic so you can receive reminders about any follow up appointments. If you would like to stop receiving reminders please contact our central booking office on 020 3313 5000 or email:appointments@imperial.nhs.uk.

Getting to hospital

We advise giving yourself plenty of time to get to hospital and to locate your clinic.

What to bring

You will need to bring the following to your appointment:

  • Your appointment letter
  • Any medication that you are currently taking (or a list of it)

You may also need:

  • Money to pay for prescriptions, or an exemption card if you are entitled to free prescriptions

When you arrive

  • use the hand gel provided on arrival or wash your hands
  • follow any signs to direct you to your clinic room

Please be assured we will do everything we can to see you promptly.

Special requirements

  • Carers coming to hospital

    Carers are welcome to come to hospital to support patients' health and social needs. We recognise carers play a vital role in supporting patients’ communications needs – particularly where a patient has dementia, learning disabilities and/or autism. We can provide carers with a ‘carers passport’ so that each patient’s main carer can be identified easily. Ask your care team for more information.
  • Do you need an interpreter?
      

    If you are attending the hospital for your appointment, your clinician can arrange for a telephone interpreter. The process takes five to 10 minutes and you do not need to let us know in advance. If your appointment is by telephone, let your clinician know when they call you that you need an interpreter, and they can arrange this and call you back into a three-way consultation. If your appointment is by video, please call 020 3311 7697 or email imperial.interpreter.bookings@nhs.net at least one week before your appointment and we will book a video interpreter for you.

    If you need a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter please tell your GP, so they can advise us when they refer you to our services and we will organise an interpreter for you. Alternatively, please contact us directly at least 10 days before your appointment on 020 3311 7697 or email imperial.interpreter.bookings@nhs.net. This service is also available for video consultations.  

  • Disabled access

    Our main outpatients departments and many of our buildings have disabled access and disabled accessible toilet facilities. Please view the maps/location information for each of our sites for more information. If you require a wheelchair, we will book for a porter to come and collect you when you arrive at reception. There is a hearing loop system available in the main outpatient departments at each of our hospital sites and the audiology and ENT clinics.
  • Patients with learning disabilities 

    We advise all patients with learning disabilities to bring a carer or friend with them to their appointment. Our outpatient care assistants (OCAs) can also support you during your visit to outpatients and act as chaperones. They can also help direct patients to other departments for tests and investigations.

  • If you need a chaperone

    You are welcome to bring a chaperone with you to your appointment. We have outpatient care assistants (OCAs) who are available to support you during your visit to outpatients and to act as chaperones. Your clinician will request a chaperone for any intimate examinations you may have.
  • Accessible information

    If you need information, such as leaflets and advice in a different format e.g. Braille or large text please email imperial.Accessible.Information@nhs.net or ask your GP to request this on your behalf in advance of your appointment.

When not to come to your appointment

If you have coronavirus symptoms please do not come into hospital.

If you have had vomiting or diarrhoea in the last three days we would ask you to reschedule your appointment. This is to make sure you are not infectious to other patients.

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At your appointment

When you arrive 

Please follow these guidelines when you arrive at the hospital:

  • use the hand gel provided on arrival or wash your hands
  • follow any signs to direct you to your clinic room

Please be assured we will do everything we can to see you promptly.

Waiting times

Please set aside at least two hours for your first outpatient visit to allow for any tests or scans you may need. Be aware that sometimes appointments can take up to half a day.

We will make every effort to make sure you are seen on time, but outpatient departments are very busy and sometimes delays are unavoidable. The patient before you may take longer than expected, or the doctor may be away on an emergency. Our staff will keep you regularly informed of any delays.

You may notice that a patient who has arrived after you is seen before you. This patient will likely be seeing a different doctor to you.

Some of our services offer all your diagnostic tests plus your outpatient appointment in one day. This means we can discuss your test results and potential treatment plan with you after you’ve had the tests, all in one visit. These appointments generally take at least half a day.

Who will I see?

During your appointment, you may see your consultant or another doctor or nurse working in the same team. All of our staff will be wearing their name badges and will introduce themselves to you.

If you feel particularly 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 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.

Confidentiality

All of your information is kept confidential. We provide details of your clinical care to your GP and, where appropriate, other health and social care professionals who are supporting your care directly. This is to ensure your continued healthcare is safe and effective. Sometimes we may use this information to help improve our services or to inform our research. In these instances, we will remove any details which would make it possible to identify you.

Find out more about your health records and how we protect your information 

Mobile phones and wi-fi access

You can bring your mobile phone with you to hospital, but it can be disturbing to other patients and staff if you take calls. When you enter a waiting room or clinical area, please ask us if it is appropriate to use your phone.

Wi-fi is available free of charge throughout our hospitals for you to use on your own mobile device. Select the WiFiSPARK_FREE network to connect to our free wi-fi service.

Smoking

Smoking or using e-cigarettes is not allowed inside any of our hospital buildings.

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After your appointment

If the doctor prescribes you a new or different medication, they will either write and inform your GP or give you a prescription to take to the hospital pharmacy.

Before you leave

We encourage you to ask questions at your appointment. You and your healthcare professional will work together to make decisions about your care, so before you leave your appointment, make sure you understand:

  • What your diagnosis is/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 happens next

Prescriptions

If your doctor or nurse gives you a prescription you’ll be asked to collect this from the hospital pharmacy or your GP. Please note, as with all NHS prescriptions, you will have to pay a charge unless you are exempt. If you don’t normally pay for your prescriptions, you will need to bring proof of your exemption with you, such as an income support book. NHS.uk offers more information about paying for prescriptions.

Locate a pharmacy 

Booking a follow up appointment

If the healthcare professional you see asks you to book a follow up appointment, please ask to do this at reception before you leave.

Follow up video consultation appointments

You may be asked if you’d like to have your follow up outpatient appointment using our video consultation service. 

Friends and family test

The friends and family test is one of several ways we measure and monitor patient experience. We ask you to complete this quick test to let us know how we’re doing. You can complete the test in our clinics or from home, at your convenience. Learn more about our friends and family test and results.


Download the outpatient leaflet 
Easy read outpatient leaflet

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