Outpatients

FAQs and contact us

If you have a question about your appointment or care, you may find an answer in the list of commonly asked questions below.

If your question isn't answered below, get in touch using the details on the change your appointment page.

I have received a text saying I needed to contact you about my referral if I haven't heard anything yet. Do you have my referral?

The e-referral services asks patients to chase their chosen hospital if you have not heard from them within the specified time frame. There is more informationa about this available on the NHS e-Referral service page.

You can check on the progress of your referral by logging on to the NHS app. The video below shows you how to view your current referrals via the NHS app.

If you cannot use the NHS app or have not been referred on the e-Referral Service, please contact the relevant appointment team for the medical department and hospital site. You'll find contact numbers on this page: Changing your appointment - team contact details.

Can I go to a site other than Malton for my urology appointment?

We run a one-stop clinic at Malton for urology. A one-stop clinic can make your experience much easier and more convenient. Instead of coming to the hospital several times for different tests and appointments, most of what you need can be done in one visit. This means you spend less time travelling and waiting for answers, and you can get your results and treatment plan more quickly. For many people, this helps reduce worry and makes the whole process simpler.

Find information on how to get to Malton on the getting here page.

Can you tell me where in the hospital my clinic appointment is?

Directions to the clinic are given in your appointment letter.

If you don't have a copy of your appointment letter, you can sign up for the patient portal on Patient Knows Best. Here, you will be able to access your letters from the library in your secure record. Sign up at my.patientsknowbest.com.

Could my appointment be by telephone call instead of at the hospital?

Our doctors review your clinical details when you are referred, and they assess whether your condition or assessment is appropriate for a telephone appointment.

If you have been asked to come to the hospital, it means your care team have requested this.

If you have problems getting to the hospital, please visit our getting here page. There is also information on the travel page about hospital transport options and eligibility.

Will I have the operation on the day of my appointment?

Your appointment letter will explain if your appointment is for an outpatient appointment or for a surgical procedure. If you are coming to an outpatient appointment, surgery is not usually carried out on the same day.

There are some exceptions, and we do have some minor surgery clinics in some areas, but this would be explained in your appointment letter so you know what to expect.

I've received a letter with an appointment. Can you tell me what it's for?

The appointment letter should include details of the department or service to help you understand what type of condition the clinic specialises in. The list below may help you find more information on each medical specialty.

Medical Specialty	Explanation
Anaesthetics	Focused on the use of medicines (called anaesthetics) to prevent pain and discomfort during surgery and other medical procedures.
Ante-Natal Clinic	Focuses on the care of women during pregnancy, before the baby is born.
Audiology	Focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing and balance problems.
Breast Surgery	Focuses on caring for patients with breast conditions, such as lumps, cysts, infections, and breast cancer.
Cardiology	Deals with problems of the heart and blood vessels, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Cardio-Respiratory	Focuses on the heart and lungs to diagnose conditions, and other issues affecting how you breathe or how your heart works.
Continence Service	Focuses on helping people who have trouble controlling their bladder or bowel. This includes problems such as frequent accidents, difficulty holding on when you need the toilet, or needing to go urgently.
Colorectal Surgery	Focuses on diagnosing and treating problems affecting the colon (large intestine), rectum, and anus.
Dermatology	Focuses on skin, hair, and nail conditions, including rashes, eczema, and acne.
Dietetics	Focuses on food, nutrition, and how what we eat affects our health.
Ear, Nose & Throat	Focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions that affect your ears, nose, throat, and related areas of the head and neck.
Endocrinology	Looks after hormone-related issues, like diabetes and thyroid problems.
Gastroenterology	Treats disorders of the digestive system, including the stomach, liver, and bowels.
General Surgery	Focuses on treating a wide range of conditions that may require surgical intervention. This includes operations on areas such as the abdomen, digestive system, breast, skin, and soft tissues.
Geriatric Medicine	Focused on the health and well-being of older adults. Doctors in this field look after the unique needs of elderly patients, helping to manage multiple long-term conditions, age-related changes, and issues such as memory loss, mobility problems, and frailty.
Gynaecology	Focuses on the health of the female reproductive system.
Haematology (Clinical)	Focuses on blood and its related disorders.
Maxillofacial Surgery	Focuses on treating conditions affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck.
Medical Oncology	Provides care for people with cancer, including diagnosis and treatment options.
MSK CATT Service	Focuses on helping people who have problems with their muscles, bones, and joints. This can include issues like back pain, sports injuries, arthritis, or conditions affecting movement and mobility.
Nephrology	Focuses on the health of your kidneys.
Neurology	Specialises in diseases of the brain, nerves, and spinal cord, such as epilepsy and migraines.
Obstetrics	Focuses on looking after people during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period just after the baby is born.
Ophthalmology	Focuses on the health of your eyes and vision.
Orthodontics	Focuses on straightening teeth and correcting problems with how the teeth and jaws fit together.
Orthotics	Focuses on the design, making, and fitting of devices known as orthoses. These are supports, braces, or splints that help improve the function and comfort of people with problems in their muscles, joints, or bones.
Paediatrics	Cares for babies, children, and teenagers, covering a wide range of health issues in young people.
Palliative Medicine	Focused on improving the quality of life for people with serious or life-limiting illnesses.
Physiotherapy	Focused on helping people restore movement and function when they have been affected by injury, illness, or disability. Physiotherapists use techniques such as exercise, manual therapy, and education to help reduce pain, improve strength and flexibility, and support recovery.
Plastic surgery	Focuses on repairing, reconstructing or improving parts of the body. This can be due to injury, birth differences, illness.
Psychological Medicine	Focuses on the connection between physical health and mental well-being. Doctors working in this field help people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours can be affected by physical illness, long-term health conditions, or medical treatments.
Restorative Dentistry	Focuses on repairing and restoring teeth that have been damaged by decay, injury, or other problems.
Respiratory Medicine	Treats lung and breathing conditions, such as asthma, COPD, and chest infections.
Rheumatology	Looks after joint, muscle, and autoimmune conditions like arthritis and lupus.
Speech & Language Therapy	Helps people who have difficulties with communication, speaking, understanding language, or swallowing.
Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery	Handles problems with bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, like fractures or arthritis.
Upper GI Surgery	Focuses on treating conditions affecting the upper part of your digestive system, such as the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach, and the first section of the small intestine. Surgeons in this field help people with problems like acid reflux, swallowing difficulties, stomach ulcers, and cancers of the oesophagus or stomach.
Urology	Deals with illnesses of the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract, as well as men's health issues.
Vascular Surgery	Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels, such as arteries and veins, outside of the heart and brain. This includes problems like blocked or narrowed arteries, varicose veins, and aneurysms.

I'm struggling to wait. Could my appointment be brought forward?

Some of our wait times are longer than we would like them to be. If you feel your condition has significantly deteriorated since your GP referred you, you may need to contact your GP so they can re-assess you.

Unfortunately, we do have a significant number of patients waiting for hospital services and we are sorry some patients are waiting longer than we would like.

When other patients cancel, we do our best to fill those appointments, even at short notice. If you'd be available within 48 hours of an appointment becoming available, we can add you to our short-notice list. We’ll note this on your record so we can contact you if a suitable slot opens up.

Get in touch with your appointment team to put your name down on the short-notice list.

Other hospitals' wait times are shorter. Could I be seen at another hospital?

Many hospitals have long wait times for outpatient appointments, but you have the right to choose your hospital. Currently, you have chosen to be referred to us.

If you wish to be referred to another hospital, we would have to cancel your referral with us, and you would need to contact your GP practice to arrange a referral to another hospital.

If you choose another hospital for your pathway, you would remain with them for the rest of your care for that referral. Your wait time would start from when the new hospital receives your referral.

I'm running late for my appointment. Will the consultant still see me?

Please try your best to be on time. Our clinics are very busy and we try to see patients in order of the clinic list.

There is often heavy traffic around our hospital sites and the car parks can be very busy. Make sure you set off with plenty of time to travel and find a parking space if you're driving.

If you are not on time, there is a risk we may not be able to see you.

My contact details have changed. How do I let you know?

Please contact the relevant appointment team for the medical department and hospital site. The numbers are listed on the change my appointment page.

If you are being seen by multiple departments in our hospitals, there's no need to contact them all separately. Updating your details with one team will update our entire patient database.

I have a question about the clinical element of my care.

Our admin teams aren't clinically trained, which means they won't be able to answer any clinical questions. This includes questions about medications and treatment.

If you are under the care of a consultant team, please contact your consultant's medical secretary.

If you have not yet been seen, please contact your GP for medical advice.

I believe I am overdue for my follow-up appointment. Can I be booked in?

Please contact the relevant appointment team for the medical department and hospital site. You'll find the numbers on the change your appointment page.

Can I claim for help with travel costs to get to my appointment?

If you are referred to hospital for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

Visit the HTCS website to see if you are eligible and make a claim.

FAQs and contact us

Industrial action: 14 - 19 November