I am a patient: Outpatient appointments

Outpatient Guide leafletIf you need to change or cancel your appointment please give us as much notice as possible by telephoning 01851 704704.

You should read your appointment card or letter carefully, as it may contain instructions for you to prepare for your appointment. Please bring the card or letter with you.

You can help by keeping your agreed appointment. Please contact us if you need to cancel your appointment, or if you are going to be unavailable for a period of time.

Please try and arrive at the Department 5-10 minutes before your appointment so that you can book in.

What should I take with me?

  • Your appointment letter.
  • A list of the medicines you are currently taking.
  • Any equipment aids you use, such as spectacles, hearing aids, etc.

What happens when I arrive?

Please follow directions to the Outpatient Department, where you will be asked for your appointment letter. The Patient Services Officer will direct you to the appropriate waiting area.

In some clinics a Nurse may be asked to carry out some simple tests before you are seen by the specialist clinician. This may include height, weight, blood pressure, or you may be sent for an X-ray. Please note if you are sent for an X-ray, your clinic visit may take 1-2 hours.

The Medical Team

You may be seen by a Consultant or a Senior House Officer (SHO) at your appointment. As the Western Isles Hospital is a teaching hospital, student doctors and nurses may also be present. You will be given the opportunity to say if you would prefer to see your doctor alone.

Your Consultation

It may be useful to have a relative or friend accompany you especially if you are hard of hearing or forgetful. Alternatively, if you would like the nurse to accompany you, just ask.

If the specialist clinician requires to examine you, with your permission, a nurse will be present to help you with dressing. Written information about your diagnosis and treatment will also be provided for you to take away and refer to. You may also be offered a video-conference (VC) consultation.

It's OK to ask questions

It’s important to know what’s going on with your own healthcare. Knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference. Simply by being more involved, you’ll be able to make better decisions about your own care and treatment.  To help you get the most out of your next appointment, here are 4 key questions it’s worth remembering to ask.

  • What are the benefits of my treatment?
  • What are the risks of my treatment?
  • Any alternative treatments I can try?
  • What if I do nothing?

Our healthcare staff are more than happy to answer these and any other questions you may have.  Feel better informed at your next appointment and remember, it’s OK to Ask.

View our short animation from Dr. Frank McAuley, NHS Western Isles Medical Director, reminding patients that it is OK to ask if they are ever unsure about advice they are given about their health. The animation can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/563701187

In addition, patients may benefit from using ‘My Patient Journal' at their healthcare appointments. Produced by NHS Western Isles, this personal guide offers the opportunity to record information received, to better understand and process, after having left a healthcare appointment.  View or download My Patient Journal at: http://www.wihb.scot.nhs.uk/…/patient-information-leaflets

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