Appointments

How to get an appointment

Your GP can refer you to the rapid diagnostic clinic (cancer) if you have unexplained symptoms or changes to your body.

All referrals are assessed by a clinician to make sure they are suitable for our service.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

• Phone: 020 7188 0359
• Email: gst-tr.rapidaccessdiagnosticclinic@nhs.net

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

Before your appointment

We’ll send you a text message with a link to a lifestyle questionnaire before your appointment. Completing this helps guide your consultation. If you do not receive a link, please fill out the rapid diagnostic clinic lifestyle questionnaire online.

We will contact you to arrange a face-to-face appointment.

You may need a physical examination, wearing loose fitting and comfortable clothing is helpful.

You can bring someone with you for support during your appointment. If you do not have anyone to help with transport or translation, please contact our:

• patient transport service 
• language support service 

You can eat and drink as normal before your appointment.

During your appointment

Please aim to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. We have limited space in the waiting room so please do not arrive more than 30 minutes early.

When you arrive, we'll ask for information about your GP and next of kin. This is to keep our records up to date.

You’ll see a doctor or nurse. They'll:

• ask you some questions
• examine you
• talk about any tests you need. This usually includes blood and urine samples. Some people also need an X-ray or heart tracing (electrocardiogram). These will be done on the day

We'll talk to you about any more tests that might be needed and organise them. This can include:

• blood tests
• CT scan 
• MRI scan 
• endoscopy 

You'll be contacted with appointment details for these tests by the relevant department.

You need to be available throughout the diagnostic process. This can take up to 28 days. It may be longer if you need further tests.

After your appointment

We'll follow-up with you either by telephone or back at the clinic once we have the results of your tests.

You'll be given a treatment plan. This will depend on the results of your tests and investigations but can include:

• referral back to your GP with recommendations on your care
• referral to another clinical team for treatment
• more tests and investigations

We'll send you and your GP a clinic discharge letter with all your results and treatment plan.