Your appointment

Your appointment

Once your appointment is booked we will contact you with the date and details of your appointment. If you booked using the e-Referrals service please refer to the website for information relating to your appointment.

For any general outpatient queries, please contact 01227 868686

Pathology (Blood Tests): 01227 783176

Cardiology Diagnostics (echocardiogram / pacing): 01227 206680

Respiratory Diagnostics (Sleep / Lung Function Testing): 01233 616193

Cardiology New Appointments: 01233 651810

Appointment checklist

• Check the details and contact us if you can't attend - if you miss to your appointment and don't let us know, you may be discharged from our care back to your GP

• Make sure we have your mobile number so we can send text reminders or advise you of changes

• Check your appointment details for special instructions such as not eating or drinking beforehand, attending with a full bladder, or whether you might be unable to drive after the appointment

• Bring details of any medications you are currently taking (packet, repeat list)

• Allow at least 2 hours for your appointment, this is in case you require extra tests such as an x-ray which will extend your time with us

• Your appointment might involve an examination or test (such as blood pressure or blood test). You may wish to wear looser fitting clothes to make this easier

• Call us if you develop diarrhoea and vomiting three days before your appointment

• Although interpreter assistance is usually arranged at the time of booking your appointment please contact 01227 868686 if you are unsure or require any other special assistance

• We will ask you if you require any communication support or reasonable adjustments, but if you have a disability or impairment and require any accessibility support, you can tell our reception staff or your clinical team, who will update your records and make sure your needs are met, or you can update your own records using our Patient Portal.

We will always try to aim to see you within 30 minutes of your appointment time, but sometimes clinics are delayed. There is usually a good reason for the delay, and our staff will keep you informed. Arriving early for your appointment does not mean we will see you earlier.

On arrival

Please use our self check-in kiosks located in the outpatients department. You do not require any letters, just your date of birth. Upon completion the kiosks will direct you to the location of your appointment.

Our reception staff are available if you require any assistance.

After your appointment

Remember to hand in your outcome form to the Reception desk before leaving the hospital.

This form is used to arrange follow-ups, record your attendance and any procedures that have been carried out.

If you have not handed your form in after you left the hospital, please send it to:

Outpatient Appointments
Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 3NG

Patient-initiated follow up

Patient-initiated follow up means that you can make an appointment to see your consultant or healthcare team if you need it, rather than be given a routine follow-up appointment. 

For example, if your symptoms relating to your condition worsen, or if you feel that you are not recovering well, you or your carer can make an appointment to see us within a specified timeframe.

This prevents you having regular review appointments when you do not want or need them. Instead you can arrange for an appointment to be made when you need one. This appointment will be via telephone, video or face to face. 

If patient-initiated follow up is appropriate for you, it will be discussed with you during your consultation. 

Your consultation

Prior to the consultation

The nursing staff may perform some general observations prior to seeing the doctor like having your height or weight checked. Should more specific tests be required these will be detailed in your appointment letter.

During the consultation

During the consultation the nursing staff are there to chaperone and assist with any examination or procedure that might need to be performed. We aim for all our patients to be treated with dignity and respect.

Our consultants aim to see as many patients personally that they can, but on occasion this may not be possible. If your consultant is not available you will be seen by one of the medical team that assist the consultant.

Medical students may attend some consultations as part of their training to become doctors. Should you prefer this not to happen, you can request a private consultation.

Consenting to treatment

We want to make sure that you fully understand your condition and the treatment choices available to you. Before you receive any treatment your doctor or nurse can help you:

• Understand what the treatment is and how long you need to use it

• Understand the benefits of the treatment

• Manage any side effects

• Talk about your worries about your treatment or medicines.

If you decide not to have a treatment or take a medicine, tell your doctor or nurse. They can support you and explain how this could affect you.

Treatment will not be carried out without your consent unless it is an emergency and you are unconscious.

Prescriptions

Most prescriptions can be taken to a community pharmacy for dispensing while some drugs can only be supplied by the hospital pharmacy. You will be instructed as to where the prescription can be dispensed.

Consultation outcomes

If you require a follow up, then this will be booked at the Reception desk, with the exception of the following specialties:

• Ophthalmology

• Respiratory

• Cardiology

• Rheumatology

• Dermatology

If your follow up is required in over 8 weeks time for the above specialties we will contact you nearer the time to arrange the appointment. This process is known as partial booking.

Sent for diagnostics / scan

You will be contacted by the hospital to arrange your diagnostic or scan date.

Added to inpatient / day case waiting list

You will be contacted by the hospital to arrange your procedure date.

Discharge

We will write to your GP or other referrer informing them that you have been discharged from hospital care.