Outpatients

Your appointment may take several hours if the doctor asks you to have other tests, so please allow plenty of time for your visit.

If you have been referred by your GP for an appointment with a healthcare provider, you may be able to book your appointment with the NHS e-Referral Service.

Most services are available via e-RS. You can choose the date and time of your appointment and your GP may be able to book your appointment there and then.

However, you have the right to think about your choices, compare different options and book your appointment later.

If so, you’ll be given an appointment request letter, which includes your unique booking reference number, NHS number and a list of hospitals or clinics to choose from. 

You’ll also be given a password, which lets you book your appointment over the phone on 0345 6088888 or online.

Video appointments have many benefits. You won't need to take the day off work, travel to hospital, pay for parking or wait in a waiting area for your appointment. Instead, you can have your appointment wherever it is convenient for you to join the online consultation. 

Not every patient will be suitable for a video appointment. Your healthcare professional will decide if they are suitable for you, or if you need to come to hospital to have tests or be physically assessed.

If we've contacted you about having a video appointment and you have accepted a suitable time and date, we will schedule an appointment as normal and send you the details via your chosen correspondence method (usually email).

What you will need to do

You will need an internet-enabled device that allows video calling. This may be a smartphone, tablet, a laptop or desktop computer with a web camera and built-in speakers and microphone.

If you do not have access to a suitable device, please call the telephone number on your appointment letter, and we will try to offer a telephone appointment instead.

On the day of your appointment 

We use Microsoft Teams for video appointments. On the date and time of your appointment, you will enter the virtual clinic using the link in your appointment letter or text reminder.

If you are unable to make your appointment, please call the number on your letter as soon as possible. 

• Head and Neck – 01622 228218
• Surgery Breast, Urology and Pain – 01622 228220
• Trauma and Orthopaedics – 01622 228221
• Women's and Children's – 01622 228222
• General Medicine, Rheumatology, Neurology, Care of the Elderly, Respiratory, Diabetes and Cardiology – 01622 228219.

Use our patient portal to manage your appointments

Our appointment reminder service will automatically:

• phone you seven days before your appointment to tell you when and where your appointment is
• give you the opportunity to change or cancel your appointment
• send a text message reminder to you if you haven’t responded to our call (if we have a mobile number for you)
• phone you the day before your appointment to remind you

Please make sure we have your phone number so we can remind you when and where your appointment is. This can be a landline number.

If you wish to receive text alerts please give us your mobile phone number. You can do this by calling one of our dedicated appointment numbers listed above.

If you do not want to get an appointment reminder you can opt out by contacting the dedicated appointment numbers or talking to a member of staff when you next visit one of our hospitals. You can opt back in at any time by contacting us.

If you need to use an interpreter when you visit the hospital for an appointment or procedure, please call the number on your appointment letter. This includes people needing British Sign Language and Hands On/Hands Over interpreting.

Please give us as much notice as possible to arrange this service for you. 

If you change your address, telephone number or GP, please tell us as soon as possible. This is important because incorrect details can cause problems forwarding information to you or to your GP.

• your appointment letter or card
• details of any medicines you are taking (for more information see Pharmacy)

Maidstone Hospital

• Go to Outpatients (green zone, ground floor) and report to reception to be signed in
• For breast clinic appointments go to the Peggy Wood Clinic (brown zone, ground floor)
• Oncology outpatients report to pink zone, first floor

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

• Report to main reception or the relevant outpatient zone (if known) to sign in, or use the kiosks
• You will be directed to the correct area (zone 1 or 2) on the screens or by a clinician.

Please tell the receptionist of any changes to your name, address, telephone number, GP or next of kin.

If you cannot find your clinic area, please ask a staff member.

We try to ensure you are seen as close to your allocated appointment time as possible. The unpredictability of hospital routine may disrupt clinics and cause delays – please be patient with us.

Although the consultant named on your appointment letter is in charge of your care, you may be seen by one of the team of doctors and nurses who assist the consultant.

To help answer all your concerns, you may wish to bring a list of questions to ask during your appointment.

We are happy for your carer to come to your consultation with you. You can also ask for a chaperone to attend any examination.

If your clinician decides you need X-rays or tests, you may be asked to stay at the hospital while these are done, or we might give you an appointment on another day.

If you are not sure what is to happen, please check with one of the nursing staff. We are here to help you.

Patient-initiated follow up means you can make an appointment if you need it, rather than be given a routine follow-up appointment you may not need.

If your symptoms relating to your condition get worse, or if you feel you are not recovering well, you or your carer can make an appointment to see us within a specified timeframe.

This means you won't need  to have regular review appointments if you do not want or need them. 

Instead you can arrange for an appointment to be made when you need one. This could be be via telephone, video or face to face. 

If patient-initiated follow up is appropriate for you, it will be discussed with you during your consultation. 

If you need an appointment

• Call us using the contact details in the "can I change or cancel my appointment?" tab
• Explain you would like make a follow-up appointment and you are on the PIFU pathway
• Agree an appointment date and time.