Your outpatient appointment

Whether you have a virtual appointment (via telephone or video) or if you are coming to the hospital for a face-to-face appointment, we will send you a letter confirming the date, time and location, alongside any essential reading information.

When you receive your appointment letter, please check what type of appointment it is. For example, is it virtual or will you be required to attend a hospital site.

You may receive your appointment letter physically via the post or digitally via our Patient Portal. For more information on digital letters and text message reminders, please click here.

We recommend that you have the following available whether your appointment is virtual or in person at one of our hospital sites:

  • Your hospital appointment letter and any leaflets or questionnaires you have been sent.
  • Information about you, such as your address, telephone number and GP details.
  • Your GP will send relevant information to the specialist as part of your referral, however, please have information available about your past medical history and any allergies. This is really important so we can ensure that you can make the right decisions about your care.
  • A list of medication you are taking, the dosage and how often it is taken. This includes tablets, injections, liquids, creams, inhalers and eye drops.

If you are required to attend a face-to-face appointment, your appointment letter will advise you where to go when you arrive at the allocated hospital site. Please speak to a member of the reception team or one of our volunteers, who will be happy to help if need support.

Please note: Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust works in close partnership with local universities to train our health professionals of the future. This means that sometimes a student nurse, doctor or therapist, may be present during your care or treatment. If you have any concerns about this, please speak to the ward or department team.

Telephone Appointment
If you have been scheduled a telephone appointment, your appointment letter will provide more information on how and when you will be contacted.

Video Appointment
If you have been scheduled a video appointment, your appointment letter will provide guidance on how to connect to our virtual waiting area. Closer to the time of your appointment, you will receive a text message with a link to test your device connection and join the consultation waiting room. If there are any technical difficulties on the day of your appointment, we will contact you on the telephone number we have on file.

If you have changed your mobile number since your last visit, please let us know as soon as possible.

You may need further tests, investigations or an appointment with another department. Our teams will explain what you need to do and arrange follow-up appointments, if required.

Picking up a prescription:

  • If you need to pick up a prescription following your appointment, our pharmacies at Queen Alexandra Hospital are located on C Level. For more information, including opening times, please click here.
  • If you have not attended an appointment at Queen Alexandra Hospital or you need to pick up a prescription outside of the opening times, you can search for your nearest pharmacy here.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please click here for more information on how to do so.