Outpatient Services at Barnsley Hospital see approximately 350,000 patients each year and strive to provide a professional, safe and efficient service for the population of Barnsley and neighbouring areas. We value each patient as an individual and our pledge is to treat each patient with dignity and respect.
The busy Outpatient Department is located on the first floor of Barnsley Hospital and offers assessment, treatment, and clinics for a range of different conditions. On arrival at the department, patients are greeted by our experienced nursing and reception staff who aim to meet the expectations and needs of all who visit the outpatient facility. We frequently audit our service in order to ensure that we continually enhance our patients experience.
We accommodate a wide variety of medical, surgical and orthopaedic clinics as well as clinics for visiting consultants from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and we understand that coming to hospital may be worrying so we do our best to make it as easy and comfortable as possible.
Many specialties are offered in the Outpatient Department, and you will be directed to different waiting areas depending on the service you are accessing.
Appointments
We aim to offer a flexible choice of appointments and deliver this through various booking practices such as NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS), telephone and video appointments.
We operate a patient telephone reminder service. It’s a voice and text service which notifies you by telephone seven days and three days before a scheduled appointment. You can confirm if you are able to attend and will be given the option to change or cancel your appointment.
Video and Telephone Appointments
Please see this short video which provides more information around video and telephone consultations at Barnsley Hospital.
The video below provides useful tips for attending your virtual appointment.
Preparing for your appointment
We will already have details about your condition but please bring the following with you on the day to help our staff help you:
- Your appointment letter or card
- Your personal details, such as your address, postcode and a contact number
- Your home address if this is different to where you currently live
- Your GP’s address and telephone number
- Details of any medicines or tablets you are taking
- Proof that you do not have to pay prescription charges, where applicable
- Any other request included in your appointment letter
Below is a short video around how to be prepared for your outpatient appointment.
Getting to your appointment
If you need transport for a first outpatient appointment, please contact your GP to arrange.
Arriving for your hospital appointment
The main outpatient department is near our Gawber Road entrance. Look for the Outpatients entrance just to the right of the main hospital entrance.
The outpatients reception area is on the first floor so use the escalator or lift to get to us.
Some outpatient departments are in different zones around the hospital.
| Department | Zone |
|---|---|
| Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit | Blue |
| Children’s Outpatients | Orange |
| Diabetes Centre | Blue |
| Physiotherapy | Blue |
| Women’s Services | Purple |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Purple |
The main Outpatients Self Check-In area
Self check in
We operate a self check-in system at Barnsley Hospital. Volunteers can help you check in at one of the many self check in kiosks near the various entrances to the hospital:
- Main entrance
- Outpatients
- Women’s Services
We advise you to check in 10 minutes before your appointment time. Patients are seen in appointment order, not in order of arrival.
Sometimes there may be reasons you to have to wait longer in clinic than anticipated. Nursing staff will let you know if there is a delay.
You will be under the care of a specialist Consultant (senior doctor) and their team as detailed in your appointment letter. Due to the large number of patients attending clinics, it’s not always possible to see the consultant. If this happens, one of the other doctors in the team will see you.
Finding your way around the hospital can sometimes be difficult. Please check our finding your way around pages before you visit, or ask at the main reception when you arrive. One of our hospital volunteers will be happy to help.
What will happen at your appointment?
Many appointments result in a conversation between you and the clinician to agree the next step. Sometimes clinicians may suggest additional procedures during your appointment which may require a detailed examination. Should you feel that you are not prepared to undergo any procedure, please discuss this with the clinician to arrange a more suitable date and time.
Blood tests or x-rays may also have to be taken during your appointment. This could mean you’ll have to spend longer at the hospital than you planned for.
When you leave the Outpatient Department please remember to hand your outcome slip to the receptionist. This ensures your health record is updated and you have the opportunity to choose a date and time for your next appointment which is convenient to you.
Medical Teams
Usually, you will be seen by a consultant (senior doctor) or a member of their medical team. However, you may be seen by other staff, such as a nurse consultant, a nurse specialist, a midwife or a therapist.
All staff wear an identity badge with their name and job title on it, so you know who they are. They also wear different coloured uniforms to help you recognise them more easily.
If you are unhappy about any aspect of your care, speak to someone in charge of the clinic, who will try to sort things out for you there and then.
Students
Barnsley hospital holds a responsibility for training a wide range of health professionals. This means that students, supervised by qualified staff, may be involved in your care. It does not affect the quality of your treatment in any way, but does provide valuable training for the students.
If you do not want to be seen by students, please tell the doctor or nurse in charge – it won’t affect your care in any way.
Involving you in your care
We want to make sure you fully understand your condition and the options available to you.
Before you receive any treatment the doctor will explain what he or she is recommending and will answer any questions you may have. No treatment is carried out without your consent unless it is an emergency and you are unconscious.
Patient Initiated Follow-up (PIFU)
Did you know that you do not always have to have a follow-up appointment?
Some areas are now offering select patients PIFU, which puts the patient in control of when they are seen by the specialist for a specific condition.
The service is specifically designed for patients with stable long-term conditions. Sometimes, regular outpatient appointments may not result in any change to your treatment, in fact your condition may flare up in between regular booked appointments and it’s during this time that you really do need our input.
Attending scheduled outpatient appointments by the hospital can be inconvenient requiring you to take time away from work, away from home etc. sometimes incurring costs such as travel, parking, taking time off work especially if your condition is stable.
Ask your clinician if it is appropriate for you not to be seen for a review appointment unless you feel you need one.
Below is a short video to help you decide what’s right for you.
Confidentiality
Everyone working in the NHS has a legal duty to keep any information about you confidential. Your information is only shared with those who need to provide your care, including your GP, unless you ask us not to do this.
To give you the most effective care, we hold health records for all our patients. This includes names, addresses, telephone numbers and medical history information.
No information about you will be used in a way that can identify you unless we have sought your permission. We may use some of the information about you for research or education, but only after we have removed any details which would make it possible to identify you.
Before you leave your appointment
Make sure you know:
- what might be wrong
- whether you need any tests
- what treatment is best for you
- what happens next and who to contact.
Collecting prescriptions
The outpatient pharmacy is located in the main outpatients waiting area (link to map)
If the doctor prescribes medicines, you will be asked either to collect these from the hospital pharmacy or from your GP.
If the clinician prescribes you with new or different medication they will write to your GP or give you a prescription to take to the hospital pharmacy.
The hospital pharmacy will charge the standard national prescription fee if a proof of exemption is not provided.
Accessibility & Travel Information
Click here for accessibility information and directions for visiting the Outpatients pharmacy. This page also includes printable guides for your convenience.
If you are unable to attend or wish to cancel your appointment
Please call our contact centre team at any time with your request to change your appointment. The number to call is 01226 434343 alternatively please use our cancellation and re-booking form.
Unfortunately some appointments cannot be changed by our contact centre outside office hours. Please accept our apologies.
The following departments can only amend appointments between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
| Department | Contact number | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Centre (all departments) | 01226 434343 | 24 hours |
| Antenatal | 01226 433985 | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm |
| Dietetics | 01226 432606 | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm |
| Occupational Therapy | 01226 432875 | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 01226 432094 | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm |
| Physiotherapy | 01226 432375 | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm |
| X-Ray including Imaging, Cardiology and Antenatal scans | 01226 432199 | Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm |
Accessibility & Travel Information
Click here for accessibility information and directions for visiting Outpatients. This page also includes printable guides for your convenience.