First Appointments…
Doctor
When you come for your first appointment you will be greeted by our reception team, who will double check we have all the correct details for you.
While you wait we may ask to record your height and weight.
After having a short seat in our welcoming waiting area, one of our staff will call you into a consultation room, where they will ask about current and past health issues, family history, injuries/trauma, operations, lifestyle, diet etc. to build a picture of what may be concerning you – we can’t always diagnose straight away so don’t be disheartened if you leave us without a diagnosis.
Some patients who walk into the Centre to speak with a consultant will have bloods taken by a nurse after their review; you will receive a letter or phone call in due course with your results.
If you require a follow up appointment, you can book with us straight away at a time and day that suits you or have reception send out an appointment in the post.
Physiotherapy
Your first appointment with our Physiotherapist, Jennifer ‘Jenny’, will come after a referral from your consultant.
You will be asked a brief medical history (previous operations, diagnosis), any current injuries/pains, exercise and dietary regime along with work/home conditions. Jenny can advice on pain management and ways to make your day to day life easier and more pain-free.
It is advisable for you to wear loose comfy clothing to any physio appointments to be able to be effectively assessed,.
Psychology
To get an appointment with our psychology team, Gráinne or Sarah , you can ask your consultant to refer you or you can self refer by phoning the Centre and request to be seen*. Telephone, video call or face to face appointments are available.
Some people find a single appointment beneficial but others feel a number of sessions are required – your follow up will be tailored to you.
*must be effected or affected by an inherited bleeding disorder
PFT’s (Platelet Function Test)
Before you come into the clinic, you will be phoned by one of our nurses and ask a few routine questions 7/14 days before your appointment. The nurse will need to know if you are taking any prescription medications, over the counter cold remedies, vitamins and diet/lifestyle related queries – some of the items listed can affect the test results and you may be asked to suspend some medication/food until after the test.
The ‘test’ is just the extraction of blood from one or both arm veins, the amount of blood taken is minimal, 30ml which is the equivalent of 2 tablespoons.
Results can take around 4/5 weeks to come back. You will be given an appointment with the doctor (usually a telephone call) in due course to go over the results.
Bone Marrow
The procedure is conducted by our Specialty Doctor, along with a nurse, who will first talk you through the procedure and any potential risks – all procedures come with risks so this is nothing to worry about.
You will need to give written consent before the Bone Marrow can go ahead.
Once consent is obtained, the doctor will ask you to lie on your side with your top rolled up to expose your mid to lower back. Your back will then be cleaned and the procedure will start.
You will be monitored after your biopsy (with a cup of tea and a biscuit!) for around half-an-hour to ensure you have no pain/discomfort then you will be free to go home. We can’t stop you driving yourself home afterwards but we recommend you get a lift where possible.
From start to finish (excluding monitoring afterwards) the appointment will take roughly 45 minutes.
Stockings
Your GP or consultant will refer you to our centre to have compression stockings measured and fitted. A member of the team will send you an appointment. When you come in for your appointment the nurse will perform a test called ‘Doppler’ on both legs and an arm to check how efficiently your blood flows. Once the nurse is happy with your blood flow, you will then be measured with a measuring tape on both legs and that is your appointment complete.
You will get a choice of stockings to chose from i.e colour, open toe. that will either be posted out to you or you could be asked to come in and try them on in clinic to ensure they fit properly.
Transition
A transition appointment is for young adults who are deemed ‘Ready Steady Go’ to move from a Paediatric Clinic to Adult. Your Paediatric Consultant will hold a joint consultation with your new Adult Consultant. They will discuss your past medical issues with you and any future procedures that may be upcoming. You will be given details for out of hours emergencies and where to attend A&E. Your new consultant will also ask about future endeavors and how they can best support you.
You will then be followed up in the adult clinic for all further appointments.
