NHS Forth Valley – Attending Outpatients

Your Appointment

Some of our outpatient clinics operate an appointment reminder service and you may receive a call or text message around a week before your appointment asking you to confirm your attendance.

Please try to arrive at the department 5-10 minutes before your appointment time so that you can book in. If you need to have tests such as an x-ray, you may need to go to other departments before or after seeing the medical practitioner. If this is the case, your clinic visit may take several hours.

You can help by:

Attending your agreed appointment. If you have an enquiry about an outpatient appointment, or you wish to confirm, cancel or change an appointment, or, you are going to be unavailable for a period of time, you should contact us as detailed in your appointment letter on 01324 566249 or by let us know online.
Following any instructions to prepare for your appointment as detailed in your letter.
Bringing the card or letter with you.
Preparing for your consultation by visiting It’s OK to Ask. Note any questions you may have to bring to your appointment.

For more information about the specific clinic or service you are attending go to Services A to Z.

Travel Arrangements

For public transport, patient transport, driving directions and expenses please visit the relevant pages below for your appointment.

Disabled parking facilities are available at all NHS Forth Valley hospitals.

Patient Transport Service

The Scottish Ambulance Service provides transport for patients who need support to reach their healthcare appointments due to their medical or mobility needs. The number to call is 0300 1231236 (calls are charged at local rate).

Support With Appointments (Scottish Ambulance Service)

If you are not eligible for the Patient Transport Service you may wish to contact one of the local organisations who provide community transport services:

Red Cross Transport and Escort service – 01324 679060
Order of Malta / Dial a Journey – 01786 465355

Facilities

Toilet facilities, including wheelchair access are available within the Outpatients Department, as are baby changing and breast feeding facilities.

Special Arrangements

Please contact 01324 566249 as soon as possible if you need us to arrange support for your outpatient appointment.

This might be:

A language interpreter or someone to sign if you are deaf.
Assistance if you are visually impaired.
Lifting equipment if you have difficulty standing, or transferring from a wheelchair.
Guide and hearing dogs are permitted within the Outpatient Department
If you require information in another format or language.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available near outpatients. If you require a wheelchair or porter assistance please go to the reception desk on entering the building or speak to a member of staff when you arrive at the department.

Medical Students

NHS Forth Valley plays an important part in the training of medical students. We are sure you will understand the need for students to gain experience and hope that you do not mind their presence. We will ask for your agreement prior to students being present at your consultation, however you have the right to refuse and this will not affect your treatment.

After Your Appointment

If the medical practitioner asks you to make another outpatient appointment for within 6 weeks, please arrange this with the receptionist before you leave the department. Otherwise your next appointment will be posted to you. Your GP will receive a letter about your outpatient visit, usually within 10-14 days.

Feedback

We value your feedback and use it to identify common themes and inform future changes and improvements to our outpatients services. Our staff also find feedback useful as it let’s them know when they are getting it right and when they could do better.