Appointments

How to get an appointment

You can ask your GP or other health professional to refer you.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

Phone: 020 7188 2092

Please let us know if you cannot come to your appointment so we can offer it to someone else.

If you miss your appointment without telling us, we may not give you another appointment. You might be discharged back to the person who referred you.

Before your appointment

You can bring someone to the appointment for support if you want to.

At your first appointment you'll need to take off some of your clothes for a physical exam. You may want to wear loose clothing to make this easier.

Contact us if you need transport or an interpreter.

During your appointment

If you are having a telephone appointment, it may be later or earlier than expected.

Please make sure you are available before and after your appointment time.

Your first face-to-face appointment can take about 2 hours. Follow-up appointments can take up to 30 minutes.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your face-to-face appointment. The nurses will do some tests with you. This may include:

• an electrocardiogram (ECG) 
• a blood test
• a urine sample
• a swab to test for MRSA 
• a breathing test (spirometry)

After these tests you'll see a member of the clinical team for your appointment. You may see:

• doctors
• nurses
• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists

During your appointment we may:

• ask about your medical history
• examine you
• ask you questions about how you manage at home, your mood and memory
• do some tests such as a walking test, X-ray or other specialist tests

We'll use the results of these tests to decide what treatment you need. You may need to have:

• more tests
• an occupational therapy assessment at your home
• physiotherapy

We're a teaching hospital and sometimes students will be in the clinic to observe. We'll ask you if you're happy for them to be at your appointment. It won't affect your care if you prefer not to have them there.

We have volunteers who are available to make you a drink and have a chat while you're waiting.

Occupational therapy appointment

Our occupational therapist will check how safely and easily you're managing everyday tasks.

They may suggest changes to make you safer and more independent, including:

• equipment like walking aids or furniture
• home adaptations like rails or ramps
• new techniques for you to manage everyday tasks

They'll also ask you about your memory and give you information and advice about how to get the most out of your day.

Read more about occupational therapy.

After your appointment

After your assessment we'll explain the results and what happens next.

Sometimes you'll need to come back for more tests. We'll often speak to your surgeon, anaesthetist and your GP.

You'll be seen by the team before your operation, during your hospital admission and monitored when you go home.

We'll send you and your GP a copy of your assessment by post. We'll also send a copy to the consultant or surgical speciality that referred you to us. Please read this letter carefully as it will include instructions for you to do before your operation.

We may:

• change your medicines
• suggest more treatment
• ask to do more tests before your surgery

If you need more tests, we may:

• give you a follow-up appointment
• visit you at home
• give you a telephone call to see how you are doing
• do a review with your GP

If you'd like to discuss your appointment please contact us.