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Outpatient information
We run outpatients clinics across the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals.
Many of these appointments are now offered virtually as video or phone consultations. You can read more about this here.
We are also running an outpatient assessment clinic at the Dorset Health Village in the Dolphin Centre in Poole. Details of that here.
Additionally, in Dorset, our hospitals, GPs, community and mental health providers, and commissioning organisations are working together with the ambition to fundamentally change the way our outpatient services are delivered. You can read more about this exciting project here.
On average nationally, outpatient appointments (where a patient is referred to a hospital but not admitted) account for 85% of all hospital-based activity. Last year, nearly one million outpatient appointments took place in Dorset, which equates to approximately 15 million miles in travelling to and from hospital.
If you have been referred to any of our hospitals you will be sent an appointment letter containing information about your outpatient appointment. This will give you details of the time, date and location of your appointment.
To help us to tackle the large waiting lists caused by the Covid-19 pandemic we routinely contact patients waiting for appointments or procedures. Increasingly, this is by text message (SMS), but can also be by letter or phone call. You can find more information here.
Planning for your care and waiting times
We know how important it is for you to have your outpatient appointment as soon as possible, and here at UHD we are doing all that we can to reduce our waiting times.
Each speciality has different waits, and to help you plan, we can advise you of the likely time between your GP referral and you being seen by the specialist.
By reviewing the table below, you will be able to find out the average number of weeks between referral and your appointment with a specialist. This will include urgent/emergency and routine appointments.
We can also share with you the number of weeks that 95% of our patients had to wait for their appointment in each specialty, to give you a realistic indicator.
An example is shown below:
- In the Breast Specialty, the average wait between referral from GP to being seen at outpatients was three weeks.
- 95% of patients were seen within seven weeks of GP referral.
- Therefore, a patient might typically expect to wait between three and seven weeks for their outpatient appointment.
Data at September 2025
| Specialty | Average of Waiting time | 95th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
|
Breast |
3 |
7 |
|
Cardiology |
12 |
34 |
|
Colorectal Surgery |
21 |
52+ |
|
Dermatology |
9 |
43 |
|
Ear Nose and Throat |
23 |
52+ |
|
Gastroenterology |
12 |
46 |
|
General Medicine |
0 |
0 |
|
General Surgery |
14 |
55 |
|
Gynaecology |
24 |
52+ |
|
Haematology (Clinical) |
9 |
23 |
|
Maxillo-facial Surgery |
20 |
52+ |
|
Neurology |
29 |
52+ |
|
Ophthalmology |
13 |
37 |
|
Oral Surgery |
||
|
Paediatrics |
13 |
39 |
|
Respiratory Medicine Service |
15 |
49 |
|
Rheumatology |
11 |
31 |
|
Trauma and Orthopaedics |
13 |
51 |
|
Upper Gastro Surgery |
29 |
52+ |
|
Urology |
19 |
52+ |
|
Vascular |
14 |
52+ |
We encourage you to look at this information before contacting your GP or hospital for an update about any outpatient appointment you are waiting for.
The NHS has recently launched the My Planned Care Patient Digital Platform which also gives you helpful advice and support whilst you wait.
Outpatient clinics are held in the following locations.
Contact telephone number - 0300 019 4740 / 0300 019 4738
- Main Outpatients
- Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Centre
- Thoracic
- Ophthalmology
- Therapy
- Oral Surgery
- Orthopaedics
- Derwent
- Christchurch Hospital
Contact telephone number - 0300 019 2823
- Main Outpatients
- Outpatient Treatment Centre
- Ladybird unit (Breast Outpatients)
- Studland – Dermatology and Rheumatology Outpatients
- Diabetes centre
- Harbourside (Gynaecology Outpatients)
- Oncology
- Child development Centre
- Children’s Outpatients
- Cardio respiratory
When you arrive at the appropriate clinic, you can register at one of the electronic self check-in machines located around the department and in the Main Entrance or speak to the receptionist to let them know you have arrived.
Information for attending the outpatient treatment centre at Poole Hospital
How long will I be?
We hope that you will be seen at your appointment time, or within 30 minutes of that time. Occasionally there are unavoidable delays, but the clinic staff will keep you informed.
What to bring with you
- Your appointment letter or card
- Any letters for your consultant from your GP, district nurse, physiotherapist or other health worker
- Details of any medication you are taking
- Money for prescriptions, refreshments and car parking
- Your diary or calendar, so future appointments or treatments can be arranged if necessary
Details are available here.
Hospital facilities
Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Please click here to view the facilities for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Poole Hospital
Please click here to view the facilities for Poole Hospital
Christchurch Hospital
Please click here to view the facilities for Christchurch Hospital
Parking at our hospitals
Our car parking space limit is allocated by Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Council (BCP) and is split between patients, visitors and staff. All the income received from car parking charges allows us to maintain and manage our car parks and support more sustainable transport alternatives. Any surplus money goes back into patient care.
Please arrive in plenty of time so you do not miss your appointment. If you are parking on or around our hospital sites, please allow an extra 30 minutes as parking is limited.
Car park relocation on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site
In order to enable the important work for our new BEACH Building and main entrance works on the RBH site, a number of car parks have been relocated. Please allow plenty of time before your appointment to travel due to the demand for parking.
Patient and visitor parking
Visitors can park to the rear of car park P3 at the back by the Eye Unit and Derwent Centre.
Blue badge holders can use car park P2, at the side near the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre. There is a small car park P1 in front of the Rehabilitation and Dorset Prosthetic Centre entrance. This car park is for blue badge holders .
There is a ticketless number plate recognition system on entry of car park P3.
Before you leave, you should enter your vehicle registration and pay at the pay station before returning to your car. Car park pay stations at the Royal Bournemouth accept debit/credit cards and cash. They also have an intercom if you need help.
For more information and a plan of the changes click here.
Drop-off locations
There are drop off and pick up areas at the Emergency Department and west wing main entrance at the rear of the hospital. Waiting is strictly limited to 20 minutes and cars must be parked in designated areas.
Bicycle parking
Bicycle parking is available with various bike shelters and stands located in the car parks, and motorcycles may be parked free of charge in designated spaces.
There are two small surface car parks available, one located at St Mary's Maternity Unit and the other adjacent to the junction of Shaftesbury and St Mary's roads. Tickets for these car parks must be purchased and displayed clearly in the windscreen.
A multi-storey car park is situated on the main hospital site, the entrance to which is on Longfleet Road (a covered walkway from the car park (level G) leads to the main hospital). The payment terminal for the multi-storey is located in the main entrance and accepts coins, notes or credit / debit cards. Payment may also be made at the security/ car parks office which is also located in the main entrance next to reception (card only). Please make sure that you make payment before returning to your vehicle.
Extra wide spaces for wheelchair users are available in the multi-storey car park on levels C and G.
To find out more about disabled access, click here
A small number of bays are also available by Entrance North and the Main Entrance to the hospital for dropping off and picking up patients.
Christchurch Hospital has five car parks serving different areas as follows:
- Car park A for Macmillan, Therapies, Outpatients, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, X-Ray and Ultrasound. This car park also has a drop-off area, motorbike parking and a short stay area for the Grove Pharmacy.
- Car Park B for the Macmillan Day Centre and Macmillan Outpatients
- Car Park C for the Howard Centre and the Day Hospital. This car park includes spaces for patient transport ambulances and has two motorbike spaces as well as a bicycle shelter
- Car Park D for the Day Hospital
- Car Park E for Dermatology
- Car Park F is for Grove Surgery patients only
Bicycle parking is available for staff in the Macmillan Courtyard and there are hoops for public use by the North entrance and by Dermatology.
*Please note, parking arrangements will change when the building work begins on the Macmillan Unit. This page will be kept up to date.
Parking charges
Please look out for the signs in our car parks and on roadways around the hospital which explain where you can and cannot park. Parking charge notices (PCNs) may be issued against vehicles failing to comply - for example, parking in hatched areas, out of a marked bay, or in a manner that causes an obstruction.
If you are issued with a PCN, you can appeal against it by following the process detailed on the notice.
Daily Parking Charges
| Duration of Stay | from 1st May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Less than 20 mins | Free |
| Up to 2 hours | £2.70 |
| Up to 3 hours | £3.70 |
| Up to 4 hours | £4.90 |
| Up to 6 hours | £7.00 |
| 24 hours | £12.30 |
| Overnight (18:00 - 07:00) | £3.10 |
Parking concessions
Free or discounted parking is available in line with mandatory elements of the NHS Car Parking Guidance 2022, please visit the Car Parking Office on site.
Travel expenses
If you receive income support, working tax credit and/or child tax credit or income-based job seeker's allowance, you may be able to reclaim your travel costs. You will need to show your appointment letter from each appointment and any tickets at the travel claims office. Please ask for directions at the reception desk (entrance 10) at Poole Hospital and the cashiers office, west wing within orthopedic out patients area at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Their opening hours are 9.30 a.m. until 12.00 p.m Monday to Friday.
Non-emergency patient transport
Travelling to your appointment using the non-emergency patient transport service
If you have a medical condition that means you cannot travel to the hospital using public transport, or you require the assistance of ambulance staff during your journey, then you may be eligible to use the Dorset or Hampshire Patient Transport Services. There is no charge for using the services, but you will be required to contact them to check you are medically eligible.
If you need to book transport, call the Patient Transport Advice Centre on 01278 727457, Monday-Friday (not bank holidays), 8:30am – 6:30pm. They will ask some simple questions about your medical condition and mobility needs and will offer other support options if needed.
To help you get to hospital on time and to avoid the delays that can be associated with parking, there is a door-to-door hospital car service.
It is a low cost and fixed price service for patients and visitors travelling to or from our hospitals. Escorts travel free. You need to be able to get in or out of a car independently, or with the help of a carer who travels with you.
The car service is operated by PRC Streamline every weekday between 9am and 6pm. Prices are based on mileage and you will be quoted a fixed price for your journey at the time of booking. You may have to share your car with another patient.
You can book the car service up to two weeks before your appointment by calling 01202 671 993 and quoting 'car service'. You can pay the driver by cash or card. Terms and conditions apply
Fixed Price, Reduced Rate Taxi Service
To help you get to your hospital appointment on time and to avoid the delays that can be associated with parking, PRC Streamline are offering a fixed price and reduced cost taxi service to and from the Royal Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch Hospitals and other UHD Trust outpatient sites.
Volunteer car services
You may get help travelling into hospital from one of the many volunteer transport services. Many GP practices are able to provide you with information about local volunteer car services operating in your catchment area. Volunteer drivers often use their own cars and you may have to pay a mileage rate or fixed price fare.
Volunteer services are aimed at providing older people or those who have accessibility issues with accessible or low cost travel to hospital and medical appointments. In the first instance contact your GP practice or for more information about community car schemes, head here.
We are aware of services operating in the following areas:
- Christchurch Neighbour Car (covering all BH23 postcodes) - 01202 989632
- Ringwood, Good Neighbours - 07933 202112
- Verwood Neighbour Car - 01202 826764
- West Parley, Neighbour Car - 01202 890173
- Wimborne Neighbour Car - 01202 849360
Taxis
There are taxi ranks at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals and a taxi drop-off and pick-up are at Poole Hospital.
Travelling to our hospitals
Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Poole Hospital
Christchurch Hospital
Our Trust is committed to encouraging greener transport and recommends that you consider public transport as your first option where possible, especially as it is often less affected by congestion.
Chargeable car parking is available but, as at most UK hospitals, they can be very busy at peak times.
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital in particular can suffer severe congestion, particularly at peak times such as early evening, so please allow extra time for your journey. Other free options can also be considered including:
- The patient transport service (free but subject to eligibility)
- Hospital car share (taxi) service
- Volunteer car services
We also encourage the public and our staff to cycle to our hospitals where possible, and we have a number of secure bike hoops and stands.
