Outpatient Guide

When you are first referred to hospital by your GP they will assess your medical condition to decide if ambulance transport is needed. The need to provide transport will then be reviewed at each outpatient visit as a patient’s needs change over time.

Transport can be provided for:

• Patients with extreme mobility problems
• Patients whose medical condition would suffer if other forms of transport were used
• Patients who would suffer unreasonable delays if other transport was used
• Patients who are considered vulnerable

Please notify us if an ambulance is no longer needed by calling the Central Control number on 0845 1203191 or the Patient Reception Centres on 01422 222209 or 01422 222224 at Calderdale Royal Hospital or 01484 342371 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

If you do not meet the criteria for ambulance transport and cannot provide your own transport, please ask a relative or friend to bring you.

Click here to view travel information.

When you visit any of our hospitals we are sure you will find our staff both friendly and helpful.

• When you come for an outpatient appointment you will need…
• Your full address, including postcode
• Name and full address of your GP
• Appointment card or letter
• Any medicines that you are currently taking (or a list of them)
• A urine sample, if requested

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

When you attend hospital you will also be asked about your ethnicity. All NHS organisations collect this information so we can plan and deliver appropriate services for all groups, to identify any health inequalities and to demonstrate that our services are equally accessible for everyone.

If for any reason you cannot make your appointment then please let us know, as we might be able to give this to someone else. To cancel an appointment or alter the date or time please call the number on your appointment letter or card.

Please report to the reception in the outpatient’s clinic.

The clinic receptionist will check your appointment card or letter and any other relevant details.

Please try to be on time for your appointment

You will not gain anything by being too early, but if you arrive late people who are on time will be seen before you.

Every effort is made to make sure that you are seen on time

Each doctor has his/her own system of appointments and bookings. We try to make sure that you get to see the doctor on time. However, this is not always possible as it might be necessary for the doctor to spend longer with some patients than expected.

Occasionally doctors might also be called away to deal with an emergency elsewhere in the hospital. If this happens, every effort will be made to keep you informed.

You might notice that a patient who has arrived after you is being seen before you. This is because they are being seen by a different doctor to you.

Students and trainee doctors

Trainee doctors are taught in our hospitals. You will be asked if you object to a trainee doctor being present at your consultation. If you do not want a trainee to be present, please inform the doctor or nurse when you arrive.

This will not affect your treatment in any way.

Each consultant specialist in the hospital has a team of doctors. They will be responsible for your treatment under his/her supervision and you will be seen by a member of this team, but not necessarily by the consultant.

As well as seeing the doctor you may need to visit other parts of the hospital for tests such as x-rays or blood tests. Directions will be given as necessary but they might not always be carried out on the same day, as you may need special preparation.

Information about your treatment is strictly confidential.

The team of health professionals caring for you keep records about your health and the care you receive from the NHS.These records are important in helping to make sure that you receive the best possible care from us.Information might be also be used to plan NHS services, help with the teaching and training of health professionals and health research.

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to maintain patient confidentiality.

The nurse will give you a slip of paper. Please give this to the clinic receptionist who will arrange any necessary follow up appointments for you.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions given by your doctor at your appointment can only be collected from the hospital pharmacy. Your own GP will renew this prescription if necessary.

The hospital pharmacy at Calderdale Royal Hospital is located in the outpatient department.

The pharmacy at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary is on the ground floor to the left of reception.

Both are open between 8.30 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.

Communicating with us

We aim to provide the best possible service and staff will be happy to answer any questions you might have. The Trust always welcomes new ideas. If you have any suggestions or comments about your visit, please contact the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS).