Outpatients

This information is for appointments at: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Aberdeen Dental Hospital.  Arrangements at other locations may vary.

Do you have a hearing impairment?

If you have any hearing difficulties, please let clinic staff know when you arrive so you don’t miss your appointment. British Sign Language interpreters are also available by arrangement.

Do you have a disability?

Before you come to hospital, please let staff know of any additional needs you may have relating to your disability by calling the phone number on your letter.

Do you have difficulty speaking English?

If you have a problem speaking, reading or understanding the English language, we have Language Line phone interpreting services available.

If you prefer, we can arrange for a face-to-face interpreter, but we need to know about this in advance.  Please ask an English-speaking friend to let staff know before you come to hospital by calling the phone number on your letter.

Your appointment

When an appointment has been made for you to attend an outpatient clinic, details of the date, time and which clinic you are to attend will be included in your appointment letter.

Please take time to read your appointment letter as it gives you information about what happens at your appointment and tells you if you need to bring anything with you. It also gives you information about waiting times, what to do if you can’t attend your appointment and how to let us know if your contact details change.

You are welcome to bring a relative or friend with you.

Please bring your medicines with you, or a note of all your medication, when you come for your appointment.

Take your appointment letter with you to hospital. You will need this to access parking on the site.

Please try and arrive at your appointment on time, but if you are running late, let the clinic know as soon possible.

Your GP will not be able to arrange for an earlier appointment unless your condition deteriorates.  If your condition does deteriorate while you are waiting for your appointment, make a new appointment with your GP who will consider what needs to be done.

How to get here

Public transport

The map on the centre pages shows the bus stops near the hospital. Both First Aberdeen and Stagecoach Bluebird provide services to Foresterhill Health Campus.

For more information about public transport (including buses and trains) please call Traveline Scotland on 0871 200 22 33.

Transport to Healthcare Information Centre (THInC)

THInC can give you information on the best way to get to and from healthcare appointments. They can find out about bus or train times or other services such as your local dial‑a-bus or community transport schemes.

Contact them on 01467 536111 or email travel@thinc‑hub.org. Please note you can’t book ambulance transport from THInC.

Coming by bicycle

There are cycle hoops across the Foresterhill site where you can secure your bicycle.

Getting here by car

You can use the postcodes below in online route planners (such as www.theAA.com) and sat‑navs:

  • Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: AB25 2ZA
  • Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital: AB25 2ZG
  • Aberdeen Maternity Hospital: AB25 2ZL
  • Aberdeen Dental School: AB25 2ZR

The central section of Foresterhill Road (shaded in map on centre pages) is for emergency vehicles and buses only. All other vehicles should use the loop road which goes round the multi-storey car park to the west of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).

Car parking

Parking at Foresterhill

Please bring your appointment letter with you. You need to show this to the parking attendant at entrances to the hospital site.

The entrances for the main hospital site are from Foresterhill Road, Westburn Road and Cornhill Road. Access to the main site is for disabled badge holders, outpatients with valid appointments, patient drop offs and collections, emergency vehicles and staff only.

As well as parking on the main hospital site, you can use the multi-storey car park. Parking attendants are on duty at peak times and can direct you.

Only park in areas designated for patients. If you park inappropriately, for example, on a pavement or grass, blocking an entrance or exit, or in a restricted area, you will receive a Civil Parking Remedy (parking ticket).

If you stop in a drop off zone, your vehicle must be attended throughout the drop‑off / collection.

Visitor parking is for genuine visitors to our hospitals. We have a number plate recognition system and anyone found using our car parks inappropriately will face a Civil Parking Remedy (parking ticket). All Civil Parking Remedies provide full instructions on making payment or submitting an appeal.

NHS Grampian cannot accept responsibility for vehicles or belongings left in hospital grounds.

Do I have to pay for parking?

There is no charge for parking on the Foresterhill site. There is a charge for the council spaces on roads surrounding the site.  

Disabled parking

Parking for disability blue badge holders is available near all entrances.  Spaces are clearly marked.  Please display a valid blue badge at all times.  Parking attendants will ask to see your badge before allowing you access and your badge must belong to you or a passenger in your vehicle.

Blue badge holders must not park on double yellow lines on the site.  This is to allow continual access for emergency vehicles, including fire engines.  

Drop off points

If you are being dropped off or collected by a relative or friend there are drop off points (30 minute maximum stay) in the following areas:

  • near the main entrance of ARI (spaces are next to the Ambulance entrance which is staff access only)
  • at the Rotunda (revolving door) entrance of ARI

Please note that vehicles parked in drop off areas for more than 30 minutes are subject to a Civil Parking Remedy (parking ticket).

Taxis

There are freephones for a taxi service available throughout the hospital.

Ambulance transport

Arranging transport to your appointment

The Scottish Ambulance Service only provides transport to patients who have a medical or mobility need.

If you do have a medical or mobility need that you think requires the help of the Ambulance Service, please call the Booking Line on 0300 123 1236 (charged at local rates from landlines and mobiles). You will be asked some questions to assess your needs.

If you are eligible for ambulance transport, the staff will book appropriate transport for you.

To cancel your ambulance transport, please call freephone 0800 389 1333 (automated service).

Attending and returning home by ambulance

If you’re coming to hospital by ambulance and you live rurally or on the outskirts of Aberdeen please be ready to travel from 8.30am for a morning appointment and 12.30pm for an afternoon appointment.

If you’re coming to hospital by ambulance and you live in Aberdeen city, please be ready at least one hour before your appointment time.

Every effort is made by the Ambulance Service to bring you to the clinic on time.  If there are any delays, don’t be concerned as you’ll be seen as soon as possible after you arrive at the clinic.

If the ambulance does not arrive, please call the clinic receptionist on the phone number on your appointment letter.  They will investigate the delay for you and get back to you as soon as possible.

If you’re going home by ambulance you’ll be picked up from the same clinic area.  You may have to wait for an ambulance to take you home. The clinic reception staff will let you know of any delays. Please tell clinic staff if you’re leaving the clinic or if you’ve been waiting a long time.

On arrival

Please hand in your letter at the clinic reception desk. The clinic receptionist will check your details.  You’ll then be asked to go to the clinic waiting area and will be seen according to your appointment time.

We aim to see you at your appointment time, or at least within 30 minutes of your appointment time.  If delays are likely, we’ll let you know why and how long you are likely to have to wait.  Please note, several types of clinic may be running at the same time. 

If you have diabetes, please bring a snack with you in case you’re delayed.

You might need to have some tests before you’re examined, and in some clinics you may be asked to provide samples of blood and / or urine.

All members of staff wear a name badge that has their photo to help you identify them.

Your consultation

A specialist is always responsible for the clinic session.  You may not be seen by them, but by another clinician who can discuss your management with the specialist, if required.

During your consultation, if you wish, you can request a chaperone.  If you have concerns about the need for a chaperone, particularly if you are not accompanied by a carer, relative or friend, please speak to a member of staff in the clinic when you arrive for your appointment.

Consent

If you need to have a procedure carried out, we’ll ask you for your consent (agreement). You can find out more about consent in the leaflet “Consent – it’s your decision”. Copies of this leaflet are available in our outpatient clinics.

If you don’t have the capacity to give consent, the doctor will assess you to make sure that the best level of care is provided in line with the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. If you have a carer, they may find the leaflet “Caring and consent” useful. You can ask staff for a copy.

Pre-operative assessment

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary clinics

If it’s decided at your consultation that you need surgery, you’ll need to have your fitness for an anaesthetic assessed (known as pre-operative assessment). This may be carried out immediately after your consultation in the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic in ARI (some people have their assessment in Woodend or Dr Gray’s). If your assessment can’t be carried out straight after your consultation, we’ll arrange another appointment for this to be done.

Your assessment will be carried out by nurses and can take from 30 to 90 minutes. Having an assessment done at this time means that you could spend less time in hospital when you come in for your operation. You may be advised that you’re fit to come in on the morning of your surgery.

Other clinics

The Maternity Hospital, Aberdeen Dental Hospital and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital have different arrangements for assessment which we’ll explain to you at your appointment.

After your appointment

You may be asked to return to the clinic.  The hospital specialist will send your GP a report advising of any treatment, or further investigations needed.

If your treatment is to begin immediately, we’ll give you a letter to hand to your GP.

Clinical teaching

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is a teaching hospital where we train students and conduct research.  Please let staff know if you do not wish students to be present during your consultation. Although you don’t need to take part in teaching or research, we hope that you will be willing to help us. 

General Information

Refreshments

Refreshments are available throughout the hospital for outpatients and visitors and everyone is welcome. There are Aroma Coffee units at the main entrance of ARI, the Rotunda (revolving door), Dental School and the Emergency Department Foyer. Next to the Foyer Aroma is a small convenience store.  All profits from Aroma go back into NHS services. There are also cafes in the Pink and Orange Zones and a Marks and Spencer Simply Food at the main entrance of ARI (near the busport).

Drinks and snacks dispensers are available throughout the site. The Royal Voluntary Service has a trolley service in many clinics and also has units in the maternity and children’s hospitals.

Help us to prevent the spread of infection

The most common way germs are spread is by people's hands.  Hand hygiene is the single most important thing you (or your visitors) can do to help reduce the spread of infections either by washing your hands or applying the alcohol hand gel provided.

We take the cleanliness of our hospitals very seriously. If you have any cause for concern, please speak to a member of staff.

Unauthorised photography, filming or recording

No one is allowed to make unauthorised photos, video or audio recordings in NHS Grampian buildings and grounds, particularly if they feature other patients, staff, carers or visitors. This is to respect the privacy and dignity of individuals using our services and also our staff.

Telephones

You can use your mobile phone in many areas of the hospital. However in some areas you can’t use your mobile phone as the signals can affect vital medical equipment.  Please check with staff if you are unsure.

Travel costs

If you receive Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (income based), Job Seeker’s Allowance (income based) or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, hold a valid NHS Exemption Certificate, or are from the Highlands and Islands area, you may be entitled to help with hospital travel costs.

If you are named on an HC2 or HC3 certificate or complete an HC5 form, you may also be entitled to help with travel costs. You must bring details of your benefits and appointment letter when you attend the hospital.  Reimbursement will only be at the cheapest public transport rate. Please keep any tickets and receipts as proof of your travel costs.

Reimbursement and queries are dealt with by the General Office, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (for ARI, AMH and Dental School patients). For RACH appointments, use the RACH General Office (open mornings only) or the ARI General Office in the afternoon.

Hospital chaplains

A hospital chaplain is available to meet you or your relatives at any time.  Chaplains are willing to visit anyone; people of any faith or none.  Please ask a member of staff to contact a chaplain for you or you can phone 01224 553316 (email gram.chaplaincy@nhs.scot).

Everyone is welcome to use hospital chapels, to appreciate their stillness and for personal prayer and reflection.

Social Work Department

There are social workers in the hospital who can discuss any non‑medical problems resulting from your visit. You can contact Social Work through the clinic receptionist.

Do you look after someone?

If you provide unpaid help and support to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour who is in need of help because they are ill, frail, have a disability, mental illness or have a substance misuse, then you are a carer. Carers can be of any age, gender or background.

For more information about carer support, ask a member of staff for the NHS Grampian leaflet “Do you look after someone?”. There is also information for carers on the NHS Grampian website.

Healthline: 08085 20 20 30

NHS Grampian healthline is a free local service available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Call us for information about anything relating to your health or health services in Grampian. Any information is sent by post free of charge. All calls are confidential and are answered by trained advisors.

Smoking, vaping and alcohol

Smoking and vaping, is not permitted in NHS Grampian grounds and premises. If you smoke or vape, please take Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) with you to avoid withdrawal symptoms while you are with us. Inpatients may ask for NRT during their stay. For free help and support to stop smoking, call 08085 20 20 30 or text ADVICE to 82727.

Alcohol must not be consumed in the hospital or its grounds.

Zero tolerance

We do not accept unauthorised drugs or illicit substances being brought on to our premises.

The safety of patients and staff is very important to NHS Grampian. Aggressive or violent behaviour will not be tolerated. NHS Grampian takes a serious view on this and will act accordingly.

Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS)

If you would like independent advice about any healthcare concerns, or general advice on dealing with the impact of ill health or disability, you can contact the PASS (part of the Citizens Advice Bureau) on 0800 917 2127.

Tell us what you think

Your feedback is important to us.  It allows us to identify where we are doing well but also where we can try to improve.

If you would like to tell us about your healthcare experience you can:

  • Share your story anonymously at careopinion.org or call them on 0800 122 31 35.

 

Published: 26/11/2024 14:31