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Welcome
Before you attend
What to bring with you
When you arrive
When you arrive at the clinic
What will happen in the clinic
After your appointment
Facilities
Welcome to the Colposcopy Department situated
within the Gynaecological out-patients department at Liverpool Women's
Hospital. Colposcopy plays an important role in the National Health
Service Screening programme .We provide outpatient facilities for
the full range of colposcopy services available to the women of
Liverpool and Merseyside and there are 14 clinics a week held in
the department.
To allay anxieties all patients referred to the clinic are sent
an information leaflet with their appointment.
Before you attend
You will receive an appointment letter and a card, which will tell
you the date and time of your appointment, with a leaflet explaining
all about colposcopic examination and possible procedures.
Changing or cancelling appointments
If you need to contact the hospital, please quote your hospital
number, which you will find on your appointment card and letter.
If you wish to change or are unable to keep an appointment for any
reason, please phone the department as soon as possible so that
your appointment can be offered to another patient on 0150 702
4198.
If you fail to attend without letting us know, after two occasions,
you will automatically be discharged and referred back to your Doctor.
Last year almost one in five of our patients failed to attend for
their appointment.
This means we are not using our trained staff efficiently and other
patients, who could keep an appointment, are waiting longer.
If for any reason you cannot keep your appointment, please let us
know by calling 0151 702 4198 between 8.30 and 4.30 p.m.
Monday to Friday.
Special Needs Advisor
We have a Special Needs Advisor who provides a support service for
women with any disability who need to attend a clinic or who require
admission to the hospital. Along with your appointment card, you
will receive a questionnaire asking if you have a disability or
long term illness and whether you require support and advice from
our advisor. You can also contact Jackie Rotherham, Disability Advisor
on 0151 702 4012 or e-mail: Jackie.Rotherham@lwh-tr.nwest.nhs.uk
Interpreting service
Your G.P will let us know if you need the help of an interpreter
and this will be arranged by the hospital.
What to bring with you
- Your appointment letter or card
- Your GP's address and telephone number
You might find it helpful to write down any questions that you
have for the doctor or nurse colposcopist.
When you arrive
Car parking
There is a large car park for the use of patients and visitors.
You will receive a 'Parking slip' when your first appointment is
sent out to you.
If you need to attend for further appointments, you will be given
a 'Car Park Pass' by the clinic reception staff.
Where we are.
The department is on the ground floor of the hospital and can be
found by following the acorn sign. You can also receive directions
from the staff on the reception desk at the main entrance.
Appointment times
We call patients in order of their appointment time, not in order
of arrival. We suggest that you plan your journey so that you arrive
5-10 minutes before your appointment time.
We do our best to ensure that you are seen within thirty minutes
of your appointment. Sometimes, appointments are delayed, because
the colposcopist has had to spend longer than expected with another
patient. Please be patient if this happens. You will be seen as
soon as possible.
When you arrive in the Colposcopy Clinic
The Colposcopy clinic is a dedicated area within the Gynaecology
Outpatients. It has its own Reception desk and staff. Please follow
the signs which you will find within the main outpatients waiting
room.
Please report to the Reception desk where staff will check your
personal details. These will include details of:
- Your name
- Your address, including postcode
- Your G.P
- Your next of kin
This information is important, as it will allow us to contact you
or your G.P if necessary.
Your medical records will be given a hospital number that is unique
to you and you will find this on the appointment letter that has
been sent to you.
Confidentiality
All the information concerning your health is confidential. All
staff who have contact with you and your medical records are obliged
to maintain confidentiality at all times.
What will happen in clinic
Your Consultation
Each clinic has its own routine and its own team of clinical, nursing
and clerical staff. All staff wear I.D badges which give their name
and occupation.
All new patients will have a full medical history taken. You will
have a nurse with you whilst you are being examined.
You may be asked if you are willing to be seen by a student doctor,
midwife or nurse during your clinic visit. Although attending clinics
is part of the training for these students, it is your choice whether
you wish to see them or not. Whatever your decision, your treatment
and the standard of care you receive will not be affected.
After your appointment
Follow up appointments
Your follow up appointment will normally be for the same day of
the week as your first appointment. The colposcopist you see in
clinic will let you know if a further appointment is needed and
will record this on your appointment slip. It is important that
you book your appointment at reception before you leave clinic.
If you decide that you no longer wish to be seen at the hospital,
would you please contact the Colposcopy department soon as possible
so that your appointment can be offered to another patient.
Pharmacy
The doctor may prescribe treatment that you need to start immediately.
You will be given an outpatient prescription sheet which you will
need to take to the hospital Pharmacy. This can be found on the
ground floor, near to the Outpatients department. You will usually
only receive enough medicine to last for 2 weeks. After this time
you will need to go to your G.P for further supplies.
If you don't normally pay for your prescriptions, you will be asked
to complete an exemption form.
Reclaiming travel expenses
You may be able to reclaim your travel expenses to the hospital
if you are on Income Support, Family Credit or hold an AG2 or AG3
certificate. Please bring proof of exemption with you when you attend.
You will be only able to claim travelling expenses for public transport
and will need to provide evidence of your journey, e.g. bus ticket.
To reclaim fares, please ask the clinic staff on the clinic Reception
desk for an attendance form. Take this to the General Office, which
can be found at the main entrance to the hospital.
Facilities
Children
Although we appreciate that it is not always possible for you to
attend clinic without bringing your children, it is important to
point out that we do not have child care facilities available. If
you are unable to attend without bringing your children with you,
please remember that they are your responsibility. It would be helpful
if you could bring something with you to help occupy
your child/children during the visit.
Baby changing facilities are available in the Reception area of
the department. If you need breast-feeding facilities, please let
the nursing staff know so that they can find you a room.
Refreshments
There is a tea bar available in the clinic waiting room and a sandwich
bar is available in the main reception area of the hospital. There
is also a shop near the main entrance where you can buy newspapers,
magazines, etc.
Phones
There are public phones available in several areas of the hospital
including the main waiting room of the outpatients' clinic. If you
bring a mobile phone with you it is very important that it is switched
off as it can interfere with the medical equipment used within the
hospital.
Smoking
We have a policy that asks patients, visitors and staff not to smoke
in the hospital.
Information is available to download as PDF document on the following
topics:
Cold
coagulation [PDF]
Chlamydia [PDF]
Loop excision
[PDF]
Colposcopy
[PDF]
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