Outpatients

New booking system

We are in the process of introducing a new booking system which will mean that you will get appointments sooner – and will also be able to choose dates and times that suit you best. As part of the preparations to introduce the new system, letters are being sent out to cancel appointments which have been fixed for more than three months away.

The new approach – known as a partial booking system – will mean that you will be seen more quickly and in a more patient friendly manner. Here’s how it works - we receive a referral from a GP and write out to you to let you know that you have been placed on a waiting list. Then six to eight weeks before the clinic, you are contacted again, asked to ring the hospital and given a choice of date and time for your appointment.

We have a high level of patients who do not attend appointments under the current system and under the new system we expect to see fewer empty seats and also fewer cancelled clinics. If you have any queries then please contact the outpatient helpline - 028 9063 4700 – which is open between 9.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday. People with outpatient appointments for clinical psychology are not affected by the new arrangements.

Transport

Citybus run regular services from Castle Street, Belfast to the hospital. A special Royal Hospitals bus leaves from Donegall Square East at the side of the City Hall at 7.10am, 7.30am and every half hour after that. If arriving by car please use the vistors car park. There is a small charge for this which you will need to pay at the kiosk or pay machines BEFORE you return to your car. Allow yourself plenty of time (about 30 minutes) to park and to get to your clinic. There are also a small number of spaces close to the outpatients centre for dirvers with a disability, along with a set down point for disabled patients.

Appointments

Charter standards state that patients should be seen within 30 minutes of the appointment time given, and staff at the clinics try to keep to this as much as possible. However sometimes the doctor may be called away or delayed by an emergency and so the clinic times may run on a little. If you are concerned by the length of time please speak to one of the staff nurses who will explain the situation to you.

If you cannot keep your appointment or admission date please tell us as soon as possible, so that we can give your place to someone else. Please telephone: 028 9089 4700.

What to bring with you

Please bring your appointment letter.
A list of your medication
A urine sample (if required).
Your benefit book - if you are claiming travelling expenses

When you arrive at the clinic

If you are disabled or have a speech, hearing or visual impairment please let us know as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to help make your visit to the Royal go as smoothly as possible.

The Royal Hospitals operates a no smoking policy in line with other Government buildings. Outpatients and visitors are asked not to smoke while visiting the hospital unless in designated smoking areas.