Top tips for getting the most out of a hospital outpatient appointment

There are three stages of a hospital appointment, and each one needs careful planning. Here is a handy checklist to help you plan your appointment.

Before

Symptoms. Write down details of your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse
Questions. Write down your two or three most important questions
Medicines. List or bring all of your medicines and pills – including vitamins, supplements and non-prescription medications
Plan your journey. Plan how you will get to the hospital (bus or taxi is often best); and then how you will find the clinic. The hospital website may have a map. Pack your medical record, and a book or magazine – there might be a long wait
Company. Ask a friend or family member to come with you. Two brains will remember more!

During

Questions
- All questions are good questions
- Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. For example, ‘Can you say that again? I still don’t understand’
- If you don’t understand any words, ask for them to be explained
- Write things down or ask a family member or friend to take notes
Doctor’s name. Ask for the name (and rank) of the doctor who is seeing you and how you contact them in the future. If they are not the consultant (a.k.a. the boss), ask for the name of the consultant and their secretary’s number. Write it all down
Top (top) tip. It is often better to wait longer to see the consultant, and it is your right to ask for this
Diagnosis. Ask the doctor for the diagnosis and any alternative ones they are considering. Write it down
What happens next. Check that you know what should happen next, and when. Write it down. Specify whether you want a face-to-face or virtual (e.g. telephone) appointment
Letters. Ask for copies of letters written about you – you are entitled to see them
Questions (again). Before you go, check that you’ve had your questions answered and that you understand the answers.

After

Next appointment. Ask for the the first or last appointment of the day next time. You are more likely to be seen on time
Record. Write down what you discussed and what happens next. Keep these notes, and add them to your medical record
Tests. Book any tests that you can (e.g. blood tests) and put the dates in your diary
What ifs. Ask yourself ‘what happens if I’m not sent details for my next appointment?’ and ‘how am I going to get the results of my tests?’ If you don’t get the results when you expect, ask for them. Ask what the results mean
Rest. Go for a coffee!

These are some other good questions that you may want to ask the doctor – from NHS England’s website.

Some other general tips

Access to your medical records. Do not assume the hospital doctor will have full access to your GP records (and vice versa) and information from any other hospital. We are sorry the computers do not link up. You may have to bring that information, and be the link between systems
Don’t rush it. Take half a day off work if necessary
Interpreter. Ask your hospital consultant’s secretary for an interpreter next time, if needed. There is also something called Language Line that can be set up on the day. Find out if your hospital has access to it.

Summary

We have described top tips for getting the most out of a hospital outpatient appointment. The more you prepare, the more you will get out of it.

Last Reviewed on 14 June 2024