Outpatient FAQs

If you are registered with a GP practice and you require a hospital referral, you can ask to be referred to DHC Outpatients

DHC Outpatients are available at Dorking Hospital, Holmhurst Medical Centre in Redhill, Greystone House in Redhill, Medwyn Centre in Dorking, Oxted Health Centre in Oxted and Epsom Old Cottage Hospital. Depending on the nature of your referral, you may be able to choose which site you attend for your outpatient appointment.

We are able to offer face to face, video and telephone appointments. Once your GP has referred you, you will receive an appointment letter which will advise you about the most appropriate type of appointment.

We have a large team of consultants practicing for DHC. Many of these consultants are attached to one of the local NHS Hospital Trusts, others are independent consultants who have considerable experience of both the NHS and private health sector.

If your consultant decides with you that you require further investigation, treatment or surgery that cannot be provided at a DHC location, they will refer you either to their associated NHS Trust hospital or to a private hospital as an NHS patient.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please email appointments.dhc@nhs.net as soon as you know you are unable to attend. Should you need to change or cancel your appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice, please call us on 01306 735459. We will be as flexible as possible in offering you an alternative appointment but options can be limited in busy clinics.

Approximately £252,000 of NHS money is wasted each year by patients who do not attend their DHC Outpatient appointments. This is not only a waste of NHS money but also means other patients have a longer wait for their appointments.

Dorking Hospital, Oxted Health Centre and Epsom Old Cottage Hospital have easy access to consulting rooms on the ground floor. Holmhurst Medical Centre, Redhill, Elizabeth House Medical Practice and Medwyn Centre have easy access to consulting rooms via the building lift. Disabled toilets and parking are available at all sites.

Your consultant will discuss with you which hospital will be most suitable for you. You may receive treatment in a local NHS hospital or a local independent hospital under the NHS.

You can find all location information, including public transportation information, on our Locations page.

See locations

You can translate health information using an online translator although it may not be able to accurately interpret complex information: Link to Google Translate

You can find links to health information in other languages on the NHS website: Link to the NHS website

If you need a translator at your appointment, please let us know in advance and your clinician will arrange for a remote translation service to be available.

We want to support you to access your healthcare in a way that meets your needs. Please let us know how we can help. Here are some examples:

• Portable hearing loops are available at reception. You can take these into the clinic room for use during your appointment.
• If a face mask is required, we can provide a clear visor to help with lip reading.
• You can request that your letters are sent to you in large print or to a different correspondence address.
• We offer interpreter and translation services.
• You may be able to choose a face to face or a virtual appointment. However, there may be a clinical reason for the type of appointment you are offered.
• We may be able to change the time of day or location of your appointment to make it easier for you to access.

If you know in advance that you cannot make your appointment, please let us know so we can try to offer it to another patient.

If you do miss your appointment you may be discharged and sent a letter explaining how to request another appointment.

In some cases, your doctor may review your electronic record and offer you another appointment. Or your doctor might send you a letter with your results or further information about your health before discharging you.