Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Your GP will: Who will I see? • work with you to find the most appropriate treatment • You will be allocated to a team and may be option for you reviewed by different doctors within the team. • write a letter of referral to the Ambulatory Care Centre You will not always be seen by a consultant, but the consultant always talks with the team to • look after your everyday healthcare requirements coordinate your ongoing specialist care. • care for you if your condition changes before your • This is a training hospital. If you do not want a outpatient appointment. student present at your appointment, please tell the clinic staff. This will not affect your care. How long until I get an appointment? Parking • This varies because the hospital waiting list ensures patients with most urgent conditions are seen first. For more information about parking at the different • Certain tests may be needed before you attend the hospitals or to view maps, please visit the hospital service. Your GP will arrange these for you. website: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/sunshinecoast/ html/carparking.asp For those who have special needs: • Please notify the clinic when you confirm your Phone 5202 2222 appointment so we can arrange help for you, particularly if a translator is required. Notes: • If you have special needs on the day of your appointment please tell the staff when you get to the clinic. • If you need help with transport or financial assistance for transport, please speak with your GP. Ambulatory

On the day of your appointment: Care Centre (formerly outpatient services) • Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to complete paperwork. This patient information brochure supports a number of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) including: • Allow up to three hours for your appointment. We try to see everyone on time but delays can occur as: Standard 2 Standard 11 The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service provides Partnering with Consumers Service Delivery access to medical, obstetric, surgical assessment and care ––You may need additional tests/dressings or other by specialist doctors and nurses. We also provide diagnostic care. Standard 12 Provision of Care testing and Allied Health services such as physiotherapy. ––Doctors can be called away for emergencies. ––You may need to be seen by a number of staff.

• If you leave the waiting area, tell the staff and leave © State of (Department of Health) 2016 your phone number. http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/3.0/au/deed.en How do I get an appointment?

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GP sends referral letter The clinic will notify Please contact the If your health condition gets and all information to the you of the details of clinic if you no longer worse while you are waiting, Ambulatory Care Centre. your appointment. want an appointment. go back to your GP and discuss your condition.

Visit your GP to get: Ambulatory Care Preparing for your Travelling to your Attending your • a referral letter Centre will appointment appointment appointment read your referral letter • a summary of your and assign an appointment Please call to confirm your • Allow plenty of time for • Arrive 15 minutes before your medical/surgical based on the urgency of appointment within 14 days to ensure parking and walking from appointment time to complete history, including any your condition. your time is not given to someone else. your vehicle or have a the necessary forms. tests or results. Advise if you have special needs. friend drop you to the • Advise staff if you have special • The urgency of your clinic. condition will determine • Please read your letter carefully. needs. how long you will wait. • Bring everything the letter asks you • You may need to pay • Allow up to three hours for your for. for parking at some appointment. • Patients categorised as hospitals. urgent will be advised • Note which facility the appointment • Please bring: quickly of this category. is at: , , –– your appointment letter • All other patients will or Sunshine Coast University –– your glasses/hearing aids receive a letter advising Hospital. –– list of current medication of the category the If you cannot attend or miss your –– medicare/pension concession cards treating doctor has given appointment: –– everything the letter asks them. • Contact the clinic as soon as you for • You may receive an allied possible for rescheduling. –– relevant X-rays/scans health appointment for • If you miss your appointment twice –– a support person if you wish additional assessment. without advising the clinic, you may –– questions you want to ask need to get a new referral from your the doctor. GP to get a new appointment. During the appointment: • If you change your address or phone • You will be advised of planned number, contact the clinic as soon ongoing care. as possible in case we need to • If you require surgery you will be discuss your appointment. advised of the process.