If your GP wants advice about the diagnosis or management of an illness, he/she may refer you to this clinic. Your referral is given priority depending on the information in the referral letter. It is important that, if your condition worsens while waiting to be seen, you revisit your GP as we can see you sooner if your situation changes. Our average waiting time for a routine outpatient appointment is about 2-3 weeks.  

 

Please confirm your appointment through the Contact Centre using the numbers listed within the Contact Details section.  Hearing and/or speech impaired patients are welcome to confirm their appointment via email.

It is essential you bring to the appointment all your tablets and medications in their original bottles.

 

At the clinic you will be seen by a consultant or registrar (who will discuss your case with the consultant). The doctor will take a detailed history of your symptoms and ask about previous illnesses and what medication you are on. Part of history-taking includes asking questions about what you do for a living, who you live with or what support you have. You will also be asked about smoking, alcohol consumption etc. There will be other questions about your health designed to add helpful information to diagnose what is causing your symptoms. The doctor will then examine you. They will explain to you as they go the reason for the examination and then what tests or treatments are coming.

 

You may be started on some medications or asked to undergo further testing before being seen or referred back to your GP. A letter will be sent to your GP with any recommendations as well as the results of any tests that are undertaken.

 

The medical outpatient clinic is also where you may be seen after you have been discharged from hospital to follow up any outstanding investigations or to see how you have improved or tolerated medications.