Outpatients

Ask a friend or relative who speaks English to contact the appointment clerk using the number on your appointment letter, and tell them the language you require. We will then arrange for an interpreter to be there when you have your appointment.

Please read your appointment letter, and any information sheets that may be included, carefully. You may need to bring a specimen or your medicines with you, if so it will say so in your letter.

Refreshments are available at Airedale General Hospital - there is a shop in out patients and a restaurant where hot and cold meals and sandwiches are available. Please remember to bring some change with you.

Toilets with disabled access and ramps are available at all locations, and the staff are always ready to help you. Drivers with a 'disabled' badge may park at the marked spaces that are close to each of the entrances.

If you are unable to keep your appointment please contact us by telephone or letter as soon as possible. We will then discuss with you an alternative day and time to attend. If you do not attend for your appointment it will waste the slot which could have been used for another patient. If you do not tell us that you will be unable to attend you will be referred back to your GP.

You will be offered an appointment at the nearest Outpatients to your home that has all the appropriate services for your needs. We run Outpatients clinics at Airedale General Hospital , the small hospitals at Bingley, Ilkley and Skipton, at Keighley and at Settle health centres

If you need transport because of your condition your GP will tell us this. We then book the car or ambulance. The booking will be mentioned in your appointment letter. If it does not then you should talk to the staff at your GP surgery. We have volunteer drivers who may be able to offer transport if you cannot use public transport and do not have access to a car. Please ring the volunteers on 01535 294626, during office hours, to talk to someone about this service.

Please do not arrive too early. Arriving early will not mean that you will be seen sooner. When you arrive you should report to the Outpatients reception to book in before you go to your clinic. Please help the receptionist by checking that your personal details, like your home address and GP, are correct and that you are registered for the clinic. If you need help finding the clinic please ask the reception staff. At Airedale General Hospital we also have volunteer guides who can give you directions, or take you there, if you wish. Wheelchairs and porters are also available when you arrive, if you need them.

When you arrive at the clinic you should be greeted by a member of staff. Please tell them who you are. If there is nobody in the waiting area when you arrive please take a seat. When you see a member of staff let them know that you have just arrived. You will be called by the clinic staff when it is your turn to be seen.

We will try to make sure you are seen as close to the time on your appointment letter as possible. Our standard is within half an hour. Sometimes there are things that delay the clinic that we can do nothing about. If a delay happens you will be kept informed by the nurse in charge of the clinic.

If you feel uncomfortable about the intimate nature of your examination you are allowed to have another person present. This may be a relative or friend, or a member of staff. Please do not be embarrassed to ask. If you do want a relative or friend to come with you please make sure that you bring only one person. We would like everybody to have the chance to sit down if they have to wait.

Children and babies are always welcome at the clinics. A member of staff will be pleased to show you where you can feed your baby or change its nappy.

There is a car park next to our Outpatients departments. We would advise you to allow plenty of time to find a space, especially if you are coming to Airedale General Hospital . There are also drop-off points next to each department entrance that a taxi can use. Re run a 'pay and display' scheme and details are shown next to the 'pay and display' machines. You should make sure you bring some change with you.

Parking fees are used to improve the parking arrangements and the security of our hospitals. If you are going to visit the hospital many times in one week you can buy a special ticket that will save you money. Talk to the staff or car park attendants about this.

We try to get as many tests completed during your visit to the clinic as possible. It is not always possible to complete them all. The doctor or nurse in the clinic will tell you how you will learn about any results we cannot share with you on the day. If you are unclear about this, please ask the doctor or nurse to explain.

You will either be given a further appointment, or discharged. If the doctor gave you a slip of paper after your consultation you should hand it in to the receptionist before you leave.

If you have forgotten to ask a question then you should talk to your GP.

The Consultant named on your letter is always in charge of your treatment. Often other doctors will work with the Consultant and you may be seen by one of these doctors. Sometimes your GP will have requested that you are definitely seen by the Consultant, if that is the case then we will organise this to happen.

In the NHS we have many health care professionals, including students, who may be present in the clinic. They are there to learn. If you do not want to have a student present let your clinic nurse know - then only essential staff will be present.

The doctor will explain the details of any test, examination or treatment. Please feel free to ask any questions you want. If you do not understand what you have been told please do not hesitate to tell the doctor or the clinic nurse, they will be happy to talk further with you.

Airedale NHS Trust does not tolerate any kind of aggression towards our staff. If you, or anyone with you, behave in an unacceptable manner we may contact the police. In extreme cases we may ask you, or the person with you, to leave the hospital.

Please do not smoke in the hospital. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or the grounds. If you have been thinking of giving up smoking you can ask your clinic nurse to help you contact the Smoking Cessation Nurse.

The fire alarms are tested regularly in our Outpatients Departments, for example, on a Monday morning. The staff will tell you if it is a test. Fires are rare in hospitals but if a fire starts then the staff are well trained and will know what to do. If you see anything that may cause a fire please let the staff know straight away.

All the information about our patients is kept safe, in case we have to treat you again. It is also kept confidential. We only share clinical information with staff that need to know about your care. Other information, that does not include your personal details, may be used for planning, training and research. You have the right to read your medical records - including those kept on our computers. Talk to your doctor, or the clinic nurse, if you wish to do this. Please note that if you want to look at the records about care given to you more than forty days ago there is a small charge for this. This is to cover administration costs.

You must not use a mobile phone within the hospital except in the Main Reception, Outpatients Reception and the Dining Room. Mobile telephones can interfere with medical equipment which might put you, or other patients, at risk. Please keep your mobile telephone switched off in the hospital.

If you have any queries about your appointment please ring the number shown in your letter.

To contact the hospital using Minicom, ring 01535 295 008 There is a portable Minicom system available to use during your stay. Ask the ward staff to contact the switchboard. To contact the hospital using Fax send to 01535 295 003