Outpatients

Pregnant women can self refer.

Patients are referred to Outpatients via their GP or community clinic.

Outpatients is located on the ground floor of the Crown Street hospital site and can be found by following the signs. You can also get directions from the staff on the reception desk at the main entrance of the hospital. When you arrive at outpatients reception desk, a member of staff will check your personal details, including:

• Your name
• Your address, including postcode
• Your GP
• Contact telephone number.

This information is important, as it will allow us to contact you or your GP if necessary. Your medical records will be given a hospital number that is unique to you and you will find this on the appointment letter that has been sent to you. We call patients in order of their appointment time, not in order of arrival. We suggest that you plan your journey so that you arrive 5-10 minutes before your appointment time.

We do our best to ensure that you are seen within thirty minutes of your appointment but sometimes appointments are delayed because a doctor has been called to deal with an urgent case or has had to spend longer than expected with another patient. Please be patient if this happens - you will be seen as soon as possible. The staff will keep you informed of any delay and this information will be placed on the notice boards situated in waiting areas or displayed on the electronic patient calling screens. You should also allocate extra time for the possibility of undergoing tests, before or after your clinic appointment.

Each clinic has its own routine and its own team of medical, midwifery, nursing and clerical staff. All staff wear ID badges which give their name and occupation. All new patients will have a full medical history taken and will be asked if they wish to be examined. You will have a nurse with you whilst you are being examined. Although you will have been allocated to a particular consultant, another member of the medical team may see you. You may be asked if you are willing to be seen by or have a student doctor, midwife or nurse present during your clinic visit. Although attending clinics is part of the training for these students, it is your choice whether you wish to see them or not. Whatever your decision, your treatment and the standard of care you receive will not be affected.

You may need to have some minor tests or treatments whilst you are in clinic. These will be explained to you and will only be carried out with your agreement. You may need to have some blood taken for test purposes and this will be done during your appointment or you may need to return to the department at another time. These samples are usually taken by the nursing staff in the department. If you need to come back on another day you will be given information about the times that you can attend. You might need to have further investigations in our x-ray/ultrasound department. The doctor will order this investigation using our electronic information system but you will need to go over to the department to make an appointment.

If you are given a further outpatient appointment, your x-ray or ultrasound appointment will usually be made for the same day. The x-ray/ultrasound department can be found directly opposite to the entrance to outpatients.

If you need to be admitted for an operation you will be given information on your condition and the treatment it requires before leaving the clinic. Please feel free to ask the doctor, midwife or nurses as many questions as you wish. It may be helpful to come prepared with a written list of your queries so that you do not forget what you want to ask. Once the doctor has explained the proposed operation to you, you will be asked to sign a consent form.

An admission date and information about your attending the Preoperative Assessment Clinic will be sent to you within a few weeks. For a small number of clinics preoperative assessments can be carried out on the same day. You will be advised of this during your appointment.

The doctor you see in clinic will let you know if a further appointment is needed and will record this on your electronic outcome form. The patient access centre will then write to you informing you of the date and time of your next appointment. If you decide that you no longer wish to be seen at the hospital, would you please contact the patient access centre as soon as possible so that your appointment can be offered to another patient.

The doctor may prescribe treatment that you need to start immediately. You will be given an outpatient prescription sheet which you will need to take to the hospital Pharmacy, which you will find on the ground floor, near to outpatients. You will usually only receive enough medicine to last for four weeks. After this time you will need to go to your GP for further supplies. If you don't normally pay for your prescriptions, you will be asked to complete an exemption form.

You may be able to reclaim your travel expenses to the hospital if you are on Income Support, Family Credit or hold an AG2 or AG3 certificate. Please bring proof of exemption with you when you attend. You will be only able to claim travelling expenses for public transport and will need to provide evidence of your journey, e.g. bus ticket. To reclaim fares, please ask the clinic staff on the clinic reception desk for an attendance form.

We know that sometimes it is impossible to attend a clinic appointment without bringing your children but it is important to point out that we do not have childcare facilities available. If you are unable to attend without bringing your children with you, please remember that they are your responsibility. Baby changing facilities are available in the reception area of outpatients. If you need breastfeeding facilities please let the nursing or midwifery staff know.

Please visit the Shops, catering and other facilities at Liverpool Women's University Hospital.

There is a large on-site car park for use by patients and visitors, charges apply. There are also limited electric vehicle charging spaces.

For more information, please visit the Getting here page for Liverpool Women's University Hospital.