Before Your Appointment

Do you have any particular requirements?
Please tell us in advance of your appointment if you or your family have any particular requirements e.g. a disability or you need for an interpreter, and we will do our best to help.

Things to bring with you

• Your appointment letter.
• Any medicine or tablets you are taking.
• Any samples asked for in your appointment letter.
• Hearing aids.
• Money for prescription charges, telephone calls, refreshments and car parking.
• Income support/family credit book if you’re receiving benefit and want to claim travelling expenses.
• List of questions you want to ask.

If possible, please bring only one relative or friend with you, as space in the waiting area is limited.

Hospital Car Service
If you are not fit enough to come to hospital by private car or public transport please contact your GP. You may be eligible to use the Hospital Car Service. There will be a charge for this, which will be collected from you by the driver.

Smoking
In March 2012 Derriford Hospital became a smokefree site. Smoking shelters across the Derriford site have been removed and no smoking is permitted outside any of the entrances to the hospital, including the main entrance, maternity entrance or the entrances at the rear of the hospital to the Terence Lewis Building.

All other Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust sites are smoke free zones. The NHS Smoking Advice Service is able to help patients and their relatives to give up smoking.

When You Arrive

• There are signposts to all Outpatient Departments.
• There are volunteer Hospital Guides at the main reception desk on level 6, who can show you to the clinic.
• Maps and advice are available at the main reception on level 6.

At the outpatient clinic

• Please book in with the clinic receptionist. You will be directed to your waiting area
• Please remember to tell us if you have changed your name, address or your General Practitioner (GP). We need to record these details to update our records and to ensure that we can contact you or your GP if necessary.
• Patients are seen in order of appointment time, rather than in order of arrival to the clinic.
• We do our best to run the clinics smoothly and to schedule.  Sometimes appointments are delayed. This is usually for a good reason, and clinic staff should always tell you why a delay has occurred.   If you have any concerns please ask at the reception desk. 

When you see the doctor

• At your appointment, you may be seen by the consultant in charge of your care, or another doctor who works in the consultant’s team or other healthcare professional.
• Ask the doctor to explain anything that you don’t understand and discuss anything that is worrying you.  You are entitled to have clearly explained to you any proposed treatment, including any risks involved in that treatment and any alternatives, before you decide whether to agree to it.
• Outpatient visits may involve some simple investigations and tests.  If so, these will be discussed with you
• If you think you may not be able to remember what is said to you, please ask for the information to be written down.

Medical students

• Derriford is a teaching hospital, which means we train healthcare professionals.
• We allow students to get involved in the treatment and care of patients so they get practical experience.
• Please tell your doctor or nurse if you don’t want students to be involved in your care.  Your care won’t be affected in any way by your decision.

Use of mobile phones in hospital

• Please note that mobile phones must not be used in many areas of the hospital as they can interfere with medical equipment.  Areas where mobile phones can be used will be clearly signed.  Public telephones are available in the main concourse on level 6 and in many other departments throughout the hospital.

When You Leave

• Please go back to the clinic reception desk before you leave the hospital. 

Travel Expenses
If you are on benefits and need help with travelling expenses to and from the hospital, please contact the Cashier on level 7, Derriford Hospital.  You must show proof of benefits at each visit to re-claim fares.

• Income Support.
• Job Seekers Allowance - income based only.
• NHS Tax Credit exemption card.
• Low Income Certificate HC2 or HC3.
• Pension Credit guaranteed credit.
• Asylum Seekers Home Office card.
• War pensions (claim direct from War Office).

The Department of Social Security sets the rules on who can claim.

Cancelling your appointment
If you need to change or cancel your appointment for any reason, please let the department know as soon as possible so that your appointment can be given to another patient.

1. Download the patient information leaflet "Attending Clinics at Derriford Hospitals"