Each week, our Trust manages more than 5000 appointments. We do this either through face-to-face appointments or by video and telephone consultations. We will always provide a consultation in the most appropriate setting as soon as we are able to.

If you have received a text or e-mail notification about an upcoming appointment, please enter your login details to access your appointment information online.

Your outpatient appointment

We offer a variety of types of appointment, including face-to-face and virtual.

Read more about the types of appointment we offer, here.

We are committed to reducing the number of wasted appointments. Every missed appointment leads to longer waiting times for everyone. Help us to help everyone by letting us know if you cannot attend your appointment and need to rebook, or no longer need our care.

Please let us know as soon as possible by rearranging via our DrDoctor service. You can cancel or request a change to your appointment by selecting ‘appointments’ in the NHS App which will redirect you to the DrDoctor service. 

If you are requesting rebooking or cancellation at less than 72 hours’ notice, please phone using the telephone number on your clinic letter us to ensure we can offer the appointment to another patient.

Please let us know at the earliest opportunity if you no longer need an appointment. This will allow us to offer the appointment to another patient.

If you do not attend your appointment, your clinician will decide if you should be offered another appointment or be discharged back to the care of your GP.

Before coming to hospital as a patient, please update the information we hold about you by logging into the NHS App and updating any incorrect information.

Click here to find help and support about using the NHS App.

We've partnered with DrDoctor to offer patients the option to access appointment information online.

If you've received a text notification for your upcoming appointment, please

If you've received a text or email notification for your upcoming appointment, please click here or in the link in your message to access your appointment information online.

The online portal allows you to:

  • View and download appointment letters
  • View the location of your appointment
  • View important clinical information
  • Add your appointment to your personal calendar
  • Request to cancel or reschedule your appointment
  • Receive appointment reminders
  • Have video consultations with your care team

You can also manage your appointments on DrDoctor by heading to ‘appointments’ in the NHS App.

For further information about DrDoctor and managing your appointment online, click here.

You can use the NHS App to view your hospital referrals and appointments in one place and see a single point of contact and supporting information for your appointments.

The App can also be used to view an estimated waiting time for your hospital treatment. Using average waiting times, the App can reassure you that you are on waiting list and indicate how long you may have to wait for treatment.

For more information including how to download the NHS App, please visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-app

Pre-appointment information

It’s important that you are involved in your healthcare. Our clinicians make the best decisions when they can combine both clinical evidence and your preferences and values.

To help us, please ensure you have the following to hand for your appointment:

  • A list of any questions you would like to ask
  • A list of the medications you are taking
  • Money for your prescription or your exemption certificate (face to face appointments only)

Please do not bring any valuables, such as jewellery or watches, especially if your letter says you will need to remove them at your appointment. We cannot accept responsibility for these items, so it is best to leave them at home.

If you need to come on site for your appointment

Across the majority of our Outpatients departments, we’ve introduced self-check in kiosks.

These make it easier for you to let us know you've arrived and to make sure we've got your correct contact details.

For a guide on how to use the kiosks, please watch the video below. If you have any problems, please speak to one of our Patient Experience Clerks who will be happy to help.

Car parking at the Great Western Hospital is plentiful but it can get busy during peak times (10.00am-3.00pm).

We encourage everyone arriving at the hospital to use alternatives to driving wherever possible.

If you are running late, please try not to worry – but call the number on your appointment letter to let us know. Find out more about parking here.

The Great Western Hospital operates a smoke-free policy, including e-cigarettes. We appreciate that coming to hospital can be stressful and upsetting, but we kindly ask you to please refrain from smoking and use alternative nicotine products while on our sites. This includes all buildings, hospital grounds and car parks.