Managing your appointment

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Your care, your call

We’re making hospital appointments fairer

Look out for a text message from us to remind you about your appointment.

If you can’t make it, just let us know by ringing the number in your text or contact our appointments team. We can offer your slot to someone else and find a time that works better for you. It’s your care, your call.

If you miss two appointments without telling us, you may be discharged back to your GP. These changes mean more people are seen on time and fewer appointments are wasted.

Changing or cancelling an appointment

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Changing or rescheduling your appointment

If you can't attend, please let us know as soon as possible

By doing this, we can offer the slot to someone else and find a better time for you. If you’re managing an appointment for someone else, you’ll need their permission and appointment details.

You can call the number at the bottom of your appointment letter, or:

  • The Royal London Hospital: 020 7767 3200 or use our live webchat displayed in the bottom righthand side of this page
  • Mile End Hospital: 020 7767 3200  
  • St Bartholomew’s Hospital: 020 7767 3200  
  • Whipps Cross Hospital: 0207 767 3303  
  • Newham Hospital: Contact the clinic teams here  

If you miss two appointments without telling us, you may be removed from the waiting list.

Inpatient and outpatient appointments

Inpatient and outpatient appointments

Your appointment

From diagnosis to recovery, we’re with you for every moment

Coming in for a test, treatment or check-up

If you have an appointment at one of our hospitals or clinics but don’t need to stay overnight, this is called a day or outpatient visit. This could be for a test, treatment or procedure.

When you need to stay in hospital for care

Sometimes you may need to stay overnight — for an operation, test, or so our team can look after you while you recover or receive treatment. This is called being an inpatient.

We’ve answered some of the questions you may have before, during and after your hospital stay

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Your appointment record

Secure access to your health information, all in one place

Every time you visit hospital, details of your care are added to your health record — from appointments and test results to medicines and allergies. Keeping this information in one place helps your hospital team plan and deliver your care safely.

With Patients Know Best, you can securely view:

  • your hospital appointments
  • your test results and letters
  • information recorded about your care, such as medicines or allergies

It’s free, easy to use, and available through the NHS App. Patients Knows Best contains your health information from May 2023.

Sign up to the NHS app and view your record online

Changing your appointment using webchat

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Using our webchat

For appointments at The Royal London and Mile End Hospitals

If you need to change or cancel an appointment, book a blood test, get travel information, or check your outpatient details at The Royal London or Mile End hospitals, you can use our web chat service at the bottom right of the page.

Web chat is quick and simple – no waiting on the phone. Just use your phone, PC, tablet or laptop, answer a few short questions, and an agent will join the chat as soon as they’re available. You can keep browsing while you wait, and download a copy of the chat for future reference.

To use web chat, you’ll need to accept cookies on our website. If you have previously declined them, please adjust your browser settings.