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Outpatient appointments

If you are unable to attend your appointment, or need to change it to a more convenient time, please let us know as soon as possible, as this will allow us to offer the appointment to someone else.

We currently have thousands of missed appointments a year and we are trying very hard to reduce the number. If we are informed in advance another patient can be seen in your place.

To help you we have an online service to make it easy to cancel or re-book. To access the service click here.

You can also do this by telephoning the Appointment Centre on 01484 355370. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 12noon. 

Please note - if you are a new patient and have booked your appointment through the e-Referral service and need to cancel or rearrange it, you will need to contact the national telephone appointment line on 0845 60 88 88, lines are open 7:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday to Sunday) or online at http://www.nhs.uk/referrals

Watch a film which explains how moving to digital outpatient letters is helping us allocate appointments more quickly.

Can I get help towards cost of travel?

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

If you or your partner is in receipt of any of the following benefits - you may be able to clain for travel costs for your Outpatient Appointment.:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
  • WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
  • CTC but you're not eligible for WTC
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Universal Credit and meet the criteria

If this applies to you please ask a member of staff for a leaflet when you come for your appointment which explains how to claim. Our General Office can also advise and action reimbursements (following completion of the form).

This NHS website page also explains more about who can claim for travel costs.

 

What happens if I fail to attend my appointment?

If you fail to attend and have not told us, you may be discharged back to your GP.