Your appointment may take several hours if the doctor asks you to have other tests, so please allow plenty of time for your visit.

If you are unable to keep your appointment for any reason, please telephone the appointments team on the telephone number shown on your letter as soon as possible. Visit the Make, change or cancel an appointment page for more information.

You can also register for our patient portal to help you see your appointment letters and details, and amend and cancel appointments online instead of calling.

If you need to use an interpreter when you visit the hospital for an appointment or procedure, please contact the number on your appointment letter to arrange this. Please provide as much notice as possible. This includes people needing British Sign Language and Hands On/Hands Over interpreting.

You will receive a text message 7 days before their outpatient appointment, which you can respond: Confirm, Cancel or Rebook.

You will then receive another text message which you cannot respond to, which is a reminder of the appointment details, place and time.

If you change address, telephone number or GP, please inform the hospital as soon as possible. This is important because incorrect details can cause problems forwarding information to you or to your GP.

• your appointment letter or card
• details of any medicines that you are currently taking

Maidstone

• Go to the outpatient department (green zone, ground floor) and report to reception to be signed in
• For breast clinic appointments go to the Peggy Wood Clinic (brown zone, ground floor)
• Oncology outpatients report to pink zone first floor

Tunbridge Wells

• Report to main reception or the relevant outpatient zone (if known) to sign in, or use the kiosks
• You will then be directed to the correct area (zone 1 or 2), either on the screens or by a clinician

We ask that you inform the receptionist of any changes to your name, address, telephone number, GP or next of kin.

If you cannot find your clinic area, please ask a staff member.

We try to ensure that you are seen as near to your allocated appointment time as possible. The unpredictability of hospital routine may disrupt clinics and cause delays – please be patient with us.

Although the consultant named on your appointment letter is in charge of your care, you may be seen by one of the team of doctors and nurses who assist the consultant. To help answer all your concerns, you may wish to bring a list of questions to ask during your appointment.

We are happy for your carer to attend your consultation with you. You may also ask for a chaperone to attend any examination.

If your clinician decides that you need X-rays or tests, you may be asked to stay at the hospital while these are done, or you may be given an appointment on another day.

If you are not sure what is to happen, please check with one of the nursing staff. We are here to help you.