Outpatients

Outpatients clinics are a very important part of the services King’s provides. We see many thousands of outpatients every year and want to ensure your visit goes smoothly.

How do I get an appointment?

We will send you a letter confirming the date and time of your outpatient’s appointment. Please check this and let us know if you need to change or cancel it.

How do I change or cancel my appointment?

If you cannot keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible by calling the number on your appointment letter.

Alternatively, you can contact King’s Outpatient Appointment Centre on 020 3299 1919, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

By letting us know you not only help us to save money but also allow another person to be seen more quickly.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

Your appointment letter
Any medicines you are taking
Any samples your appointment letter asks you to bring
Money for prescriptions or an exemption certificate
A list questions you want to ask

I need an interpreter or translator – how do I arrange one?

Please ring the number on your appointment letter and an ask for an interpreter to be arranged for you

For more information, visit our interpreting and translation service page.

When you arrive

Go to the clinic on your appointment letter and give your name and appointment letter to the receptionist.

Please help us by arriving for your appointment on time.

Express Check-in

We are piloting an Express Check-in system in five main outpatients areas:

Dermatology
Haematology
Urology & General Surgery
Orthopaedics
Ophthalmology.

If you have an appointment at one of these, your letter will have a barcode on it. To register that you have arrived for your appointment, go to one of the Express Check-in kiosks in Golden Jubilee Wing and scan in your barcode. If you forget your letter, you can still use the kiosk to register your arrival, by manually confirming certain details of your appointment.

Once you have checked in using the kiosk, your name will be shown on a display screen as ‘Waiting’. When the doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional is ready to see you, the screen will display a 'Please go to...' message, which tells you where to go for your consultation.

We are introducing Express Check-in so you spend less time queuing to see a receptionist. It also allows reception staff more time to help with the smooth running of the clinics.

How long will I have to wait?

Allow at least two hours for your appointment.
We will try not to keep you for more than 30 minutes after your appointment time.
You might need to have an x-ray or other tests afterwards. We will try to arrange these on the same day, so you may need to wait longer.
Please tell the receptionist if you need to leave and cannot wait for your tests as might be able to have them another day.
Sometimes appointments are delayed. This is usually for a good reason, but clinic staff should always tell you why there has been a delay.
Arriving early for your appointment does not mean we will see you earlier.

After your appointment

Once your appointment has finished please go back to the reception desk before leaving the hospital.

What happens if I need more tests?

If this is necessary, the clinic receptionist will explain to you how to go about arranging a date and time that is convenient for you.

What happens if I need another appointment?

The clinic receptionist will arrange another appointment for you before you leave the hospital.

If we need to change it, we will tell you beforehand and rearrange it for a date and time that is convenient for you.

What happens after my appointment ?

Please tell the clinic receptionist if your doctor tells you that you do not need to come back to the clinic or that you need to come into hospital as an inpatient.

How do I get a second opinion?

We hope you will be happy with the care we provide at King's but if you would like a second opinion from another doctor, please discuss this option with your home doctor (GP).