Outpatient appointments

The Trust is working hard to keep patients and staff safe while we work with Covid-19.

Your doctor may offer  an alternative to an in person, face-to-face outpatient appointment such as telephone or video consultation.

Guidelines recommend that if you have been offered this option and have the ability and technology to do the appointment this way, then this is preferable to a face-to-face appointment.

We advise you dial in 10 minutes before a video appointment to test your connection. Test yours using this link. If this cannot be done, then an alternative appointment will be arranged.

Appointments in person

Appointments in person will be made where it is clinically necessary or where no alternative is available.

Please do not attend for outpatient appointment if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or are in current 14 days isolation due to contact with somebody who has had symptoms. Call us to rearrange your appointment:

• New appointments 01695 656865
• Follow-up appointments 01695 656680
• Antenatal appointments 01695 656924
• Endoscopy appointments 01695 656455

Before your appointment

• You will be required to attend for a Covid-19 test three days before your appointment. This will be arranged at the same time as your appointment date
• You should drive you own car where possible for this Covid-19 test. If not possible, you should only be accompanied by somebody who currently lives in the same household as you
• Only if the test result is positive will you be contacted with further advice regarding your appointment, which may well be postponed

On the day of your appointment

• If you are travelling by your own transport and arrive early for your appointment please stay in your car until 5 minutes before your appointment time
• For all other forms of transport please arrive at the Outpatient department no more than 5 minutes before your appointment time
• Please wear a face covering on arrival at the hospital, surgical masks and hand gel will also be supplied at the main entrances to the hospital
• Please avoid bringing relatives with you as our waiting rooms are small and we want to observe social distancing.  If a support person is absolutely necessary, please advise us in advance on the phone numbers listed
• Please observe the seating allocations when in the waiting rooms
• Please observe the 2 metre social distance measures at all times
• Please follow the markings on the floor identified through the corridors and lifts and notices within stairways

After your appointment

• Once you are ready to be discharged we ask you that you arrange to be collected by a member of your household as soon as possible.  If you are being collected by a volunteer we advise for you to wear a mask and sit in the back seat of the vehicle
• If required we will contact you with a further outpatient appointment

There are general principles you should follow to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser, you should do this after you blow your nose, sneeze or cough, or after you eat or handle food
• Avoid touching your eyes nose and mouth with your hands, this includes whilst wearing a mask
• Avoid close contact with people who have symptoms
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the bin
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces within the home