Planning your visit

Booking an appointment

You can request an appointment online, by phone or on WhatsApp. An online request is a request for contact — it does not by itself confirm a time. When you submit the form you receive a reference number, and the hospital team follows up to agree a slot with you.

If you are booking for someone else, enter the patient's details in the form and your own phone number as the contact, and mention your relationship to the patient in the message.

Request an appointment

What to bring

Bringing the right documents avoids repeat visits and repeated tests. As a general checklist:

• An identification document for the patient
• Previous prescriptions, discharge summaries and referral letters
• Laboratory reports and any previous scans, for comparison
• A written list of all medicines and supplements currently taken
• Vaccination records, if the patient is a child
• Your antenatal card, if the visit is a pregnancy review
• Reading glasses and a hearing aid, if you use them
• A written list of the questions you want answered

During your consultation

A consultation usually begins with a discussion of why you have come and how the problem has changed over time, followed by an examination appropriate to the concern. Tests may be suggested to answer a specific question rather than as a routine step.

Before you leave the room, it is reasonable to check four things: what was found, what the plan is, what you should watch for, and when you should be seen again. Asking for the plan in writing makes it far easier to follow at home.

Questions worth asking: What is the likely cause? What are the options, including doing nothing for now? What should make me come back sooner? Who do I contact if something changes?

Coming with a child

Children generally cope better when they know roughly what will happen. A simple, honest explanation beforehand works better than a surprise, and better than a promise that nothing will be uncomfortable.

• Explain the visit in simple terms the day before or the morning of
• Bring a familiar toy, blanket or book
• Dress the child in clothing that is easy to remove for examination
• Bring a snack and drink for afterwards, unless the child is fasting
• Ask about fasting times for the child's age if a procedure is planned
• Tell the team about any recent fever, cough or cold

Tests, scans and reports

Some tests need preparation and some do not, and the answer depends on the specific investigation — so always ask the person who requests it. When your sample or scan is taken, ask when the report will be ready and how to collect it, then bring the report to your follow-up so your doctor can discuss it with you.

Medicines

Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own before a procedure. Tell the team about everything you take, including blood thinners, diabetes medicines and herbal preparations, and ask specifically which to continue and which to pause. Complete any course your doctor tells you to complete, even if you feel better earlier, and do not share prescribed medicine with other family members.

Visiting and accompanying a patient

A relative or carer is often helpful, particularly for children, older patients and anyone who may find it hard to recall instructions afterwards. Please keep the number of accompanying people to a minimum so that waiting areas stay comfortable for everyone, and check with the hospital team before bringing young children to visit an inpatient.

Your information

Details you submit through the appointment and enquiry forms are used to respond to your request and to coordinate care-related communication. Please do not submit detailed medical information through a general web form. See our privacy policy for more.