Your appointment card or letter gives details of when and where you should attend. If you cannot keep your appointment or the time is inconvenient, please contact the appropriate outpatient department on the number indicated on your appointment card or letter as soon as possible for this to be changed. We can then offer the appointment to another patient.

Please report to the receptionist at the appropriate department ten minutes before your appointment time. The receptionist will check your personal details and may ask you for further information if this is your first appointment. All of the information is treated as confidential. In addition, the receptionist will ask you if you have any special needs so that we can meet your individual requirements.

Please bring:

• Your appointment card or letter
• A urine specimen (if requested)
• Any tablets or medicine that you are taking in their original container (this includes oral contraceptives)
• If you have one, a card which details current treatment, for example a steroid card or anticoagulant card.
• A prescription exemption certificate if you have one.

It is very important that you tell the nursing and medical staff about the tablets or medicines that you are taking and which you have brought to hospital. Please tell them if you obtain your medicines in a medication organiser, for example a Dossette or Medidos box.

It is important that you alert the medical and nursing staff if you have any allergies (for example, to certain drugs or latex) or if you have had any adverse reactions to medication and this will be recorded in your records.

If you are on certain types of benefit, you may be entitled to help with your travel costs. Please ask clinic staff or call at the Cashiers Office for details. If you are eligible, you will need to bring proof of benefits, travel costs and an authorised confirmation of your attendance issued by the department that you have attended.

Please note that costs will only be covered to and/or from the address on your benefit book (or documentation). Travel expenses for anyone who escorts you are only payable if there is a medical need and you have proof of this.