Our main Outpatients department is based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital but we also provide services at Clifton Hospital and Fleetwood Hospital – so check the destination on your appointment letter before setting out.
Blackpool Victoria outpatients has a different coloured reception areas. Go to the one shown on your appointment letter.
If you are unsure where to go, ask a hospital navigator when you arrive who are easily recognisable in their orange tee-shirts.
Tell us you have arrived using the self check-in kiosks. You will be asked to enter your gender, date of birth and postcode. Simply follow the instructions displayed on the screen.
Speak to a receptionist if any of your contact details have changed.
Let us know in advance through your GP if you, or the person you are supporting, needs help with communicating e.g. due to hearing or speech impairment, dementia, learning disabilities, or an interpreter.
Outpatients are allowed one person to attend their appointments with them.
An additional nominated individual (not classed as a visitor) to provide support where the patient requires additional support. This includes patients:
- With mental health needs
- With a cognitive impairment
- Communication challenges such as visual or hearing impairment
- When the patient is receiving significant/bad news
- English is not the first language
- Mobility assistance
- Other considerations for extended/additional visiting should be considered using an individual risk-based approach
- Any tablets and medicines you are prescribed (or a list of them)
- Any samples as requested in your appointment letter or special instructions
- A list of questions you may want ask the doctor
- Some change for refreshments or for car parking
- A book, magazine or portable electronic device (we have free wifi) to read while you wait
You are welcome to bring a friend or relative to accompany you during your consultation and children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
We see patients according to appointment times and not in order of arrival. We do our best to ensure our clinics run to time but there may be occasional delays if, for example, a doctor is called to an emergency.
If you are anxious about having to wait, please speak to a member of staff.
A consultation is an appointment with the doctor where you will be examined and then have a discussion about treatment required, advised or indeed explaining your options.
You may not necessarily be seen by the consultant in charge of the clinic, although they will be monitoring your care.
It is sometimes useful to write down any questions you may wish to ask the doctor before you attend the clinic, as it is easy to forget once you are in an unfamiliar and perhaps anxious situation.
Where possible, any tests will be completed during your visit. This may mean a longer visit but will avoid asking you back another day.
If the doctor decides that you need to be admitted to hospital, they will inform you of this and your name will be put on the waiting list. You will then be contacted in due course about your admission or in some instances an admission date may be discussed with you during consultation.
