Seeing the doctor
In some clinics, you may have one or more tests carried out before seeing the doctor, e.g. X-ray, bloods etc. You may also need to be weighed and have your urine tested. In clinic, you will be seen by a member of the consultant's team of doctors. You may not see the same doctor each time you have an appointment. If you are keen to see one particular doctor, please let the nurse know and we will try to help if we can. Please note, this is not always possible.
Admission to hospital
The doctor might decide that you should be admitted to hospital. They may not be able to give you a definite date for admission but should be able to give you an approximate idea of when it might be.Your name will be put on the consultant's waiting list and you may be asked if you could come in at short notice, should a bed become available. If your condition changes while you are on the waiting list you should see your GP. They may wish to arrange for you to be seen again at the hospital.
If, for any reason, you no longer need or want your treatment, please inform the hospital so that your name can be removed from the waiting list.
Further appointments
After you have been seen by the doctor, you may be asked to go for further tests, examinations or the fitting of an appliance. You will be given an appointment slip which must be handed to the receptionist before you leave the hospital. This will tell the receptionist whether you require a further appointment. If you do, they will book this for you and enter the time and date on your appointment card. If the reception desk is unmanned, the nurse will retain your slip; should you require a further appointment, this will be sent to you by post.
Prescriptions
If the clinic doctor thinks you need tablets or treatment, they will normally write to your GP and ask them to prescribe the treatment for you. It should be possible for you to obtain the necessary treatment at the next convenient surgery and during working hours.
If the treatment needs to be started quickly, the hospital will normally prescribe it for you, but will usually only give enough for a few days' supply. When you are given a hospital prescription, you must take it to the
Pharmacy Department.
Staff training
As one of the country's leading teaching hospitals, doctors, nurses and other staff are trained here. As part of their training they sometimes meet and examine patients.
If you are asked to be involved in any training activity and would prefer not to, please tell the receptionist or nurse. This will in no way affect your treatment.
