If you are an outpatient, this is when you have appointments with us.
Your appointment may be to help with your diagnosis and find out what is wrong. Or it might be part of your ongoing care and treatment with us.
We run video clinics as well as face to face clinics.
Click on the links below for more info about our clinics and how we will contact you.
If we can, we will use a digital letter to let you know about your appointment. We can only do this if we have your mobile phone number.
If we have your mobile phone number, we will text you a copy of your digital letter.
If you do not open the link in the text message within 48 hours, we will send a letter out in the post instead. If we do not have a mobile phone number for you, you will get a letter in the post.
How is this better?
Using digital letters means you can see all of your appointment details on your phone. You can cancel or confirm the appointment in one click. You can also add it to your calendar.
This gives you more choice and control in how you manage your appointments. Our digital system can also read your letter aloud or in a different language if you need it to.
Watch the video below to see how it works.
A video clinic is the same as seeing you face to face, but it happens online. You will get the same care and see and talk to the same person. It is often much more convenient.
We use a system called Attend Anywhere for our video clinics. You can access this on your smartphone, tablet or computer. The conversation you have with us is private. We do not record video clinics. It is secure and confidential.
We run outpatient clinics in lots of places. Click here for details on where our sites are, how to get here and info on public transport and parking.
The letter you get before your appointment will tell you which location you need to go to. It will also tell you which entrance you need to use. If you arrive in an ambulance someone will take you to the department you need.
Click here for a site map of South Tyneside District Hospital.
Click here for a site map of Sunderland Royal Hospital.
You will not always need to have a follow up appointment.
We are now giving you more control so that you can make a follow up appointment if you need to. We call this Patient Initiated Follow Up or ‘PIFU’ for short. It helps us to stop wasting people’s time with follow-up appointments that they do not need. It can also save a lot of stress and worry.
It gives you the control to see us when you to. You will not have a regular follow up appointments booked, but if you need us, we are here for you. This might be if your symptoms change, or you feel the treatment is not working.
PIFU might not be right for everyone. Your clinical team will talk to you about this and what is best for your care.
How it works
If PIFU is okay for you, we will give you a time period to contact us. This might be 3, 6 or 12 months. If you need us within this time, you can contact us for a follow up appointment.
We will make sure you know how to contact us so that you can book an appointment.
If you need to change or cancel your booked PIFU appointment, you can get in touch the same way.
“I understood…that my doctor wouldn’t think, ‘oh, she is just having a bit of a whinge’ – she is contacting me because she needs me, because there is something not working.”
Patient quote
Click here to read our patient information leaflet about PIFU or watch the video below.
If you need medication after your outpatient appointment, you can get this from one of our outpatient pharmacies.
You will be told where you need to collect your prescription from. Our outpatient pharmacies are at:
- Sunderland Royal Hospital – Entrance 5 Chester Wing
- South Tyneside District Hospital – Main hospital building, next to Pathology
- Sunderland Eye Infirmary
You can also get a range of over-the-counter medication too. Our pharmacists will help you.
Your questions answered
When you arrive, please go to reception. Our team will check you in and let you know where to wait. There might also be electronic kiosks to check yourself in.
Our friendly nursing team will support you during your visit. They will help answer any questions. You can also look out for notice boards in the area. They will have more information about things like waiting times.
Yes. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel your appointment.
You can do this by calling the team on 0191 541 0101.
You can call during these times:
- Monday to Thursday – 7.30am to 7pm
- Friday – 7.30am to 5pm
- Saturday – 8.30am to 1pm
For eye outpatient appointments, call 0191 569 9064.
It’s very important to tell us if you can’t make your appointment. You might be removed from the waiting list if you don’t. If this happens you will need a new referral from your GP.
How long your appointment takes will depend on the kind of appointment you have. You may need a blood test or another procedure. This will mean your appointment is longer.
We recommend keeping half a day free for your appointment.
We will always try to see you at the time we have scheduled. Sometimes this is not possible because clinics can be delayed. We will tell you if this happens. If you wait longer than usual, please speak to a member of staff.
