Specialist doctor appointments

Being an outpatient

You're an outpatient when you come to our hospitals or health centres for an appointment with a doctor, specialist or clinic.

Sometimes you need these appointments to help you get ready to stay in hospital.

Our outpatient clinics also provide more routine medical services across the Darling Downs region.

Getting an appointment

You need an appointment to visit an outpatient clinic.

If your GP thinks you should see a specialist, they'll write you a referral letter. You'll need to give the letter to your specialist before your first appointment, or when you see the specialist for the first time.

The first step is to get a referral from your GP.

All referrals go in order based on how urgent each patient's condition is. You'll go on a waiting list with other patients who need to see a specialist. The specialist will work down the waiting list seeing the most urgent case first.

The clinic specialists will assess the referral and you'll get an appointment if it's needed.

Each hospital or specialist clinic has its own process for assessing urgency, accepting referral letters and making appointments.

If you have any questions about your referral, you can call 07 4616 6000 and talk to our outpatients unit.

Before your appointment

• You’ll be contacted with your appointment details.
• Make sure you know the date, time, and where you need to go.
• Plan your trip—how to get to the hospital or clinic, parking or public transport.
• If you need an interpreter, call the hospital or clinic at least 2 weeks before your appointment to arrange one.
• The Choosing Wisely Australia website has a list of questions you could ask about your test, treatment or procedure.
• Talk to your doctor or specialist about how much it will cost.

You can also bring a family member or a friend to your appointment.

What to bring

On the day of your appointment please bring:

• your appointment letter
• any test results, reports and medical scans such as x-rays, bone scans or ultrasounds
• medications and dietary supplements required during your visit
• your Medicare card
• pension or concession card, if you have one
• your GP contact details
• something to do while you wait.

Your appointment

Arrive ahead of your appointment time and check in with staff. They’ll check your details, ask to see your Medicare or pension card and direct you to the waiting area.

We do our best to stay on schedule, but delays can happen. Your doctor may need to discuss a complicated treatment or diagnosis with another patient. Please tell clinic staff if you can’t wait for your appointment.

There may be other medical staff in the room when you see the doctor, including medical and nursing students. Your doctor will introduce them and ask if you’re willing to let them observe.

You can ask your doctor questions at any time during your appointment. If you don't understand what you're being told, ask the doctor to explain it again.