Appointments and visiting Accelerate

Appointments

We have a robust triage process to ensure that all urgent patients are seen as soon as possible. We aim to see urgent patients within 4 to 8 weeks of receiving the referral and routine patients after 8 weeks. It is important to note that we are currently experiencing a high demand for our services, and this may influence patient waiting times.

You will receive your appointment letter which, if you prefer, can be sent to you by email if you let the Reception Team know.

The administrative staff will contact you 3 days before your appointment either directly by phone or by SMS. If you do not respond to advise of your attendance, we will automatically cancel your appointment and offer it to another patient.

Appointments tend to last around 1 to 1.5 hours, so please ensure you allow enough time. We have made a short video which gives a walk through our clinic and will help you know what to expect.

Where do the appointments take place?

As specialists in the treatment of both wounds and lymphoedema, our expert team provide care to patients:

• In the Accelerate Clinic at our Centre for Excellence and Innovation at Mare Street, Hackney
• Our Leg Ulcer Clinics at Bethnal Green Health Centre and Newby Health Centre
• Community Services for Tower Hamlets and City & Hackney housebound patients

General transport advice

We will discuss transport with you to find the best solution and make arrangements were appropriate.

By car or taxi

• Taxi’s may set down with the grounds, but there’s no parking available on site. There is however, plenty of on-street parking bays surrounding the hospital area.

On your bike

• There are several bike racks at the hospital for visitors and staff

Nearest tube

• Central Line to Bethnal Green, and then by bus (106 – 254) or 15 minutes walk from the Tube Station.
• District Line to Whitechapel and then by bus (254 – 106) from outside the station.

Nearest overland / train station:

The nearest station is London Fields, which provides onward connections to Liverpool Street, Walthamstow, Chingford and beyond.

Nearest buses:

• The following buses pass the gate (26 – 48 – 55 – 106 – 254)

Running late for your appointment?

Please call us on 020 3819 6022 to let us know that you’re running late. We will do our very best to accommodate you but you may get a shorter session or we may be unable to see you.

Cancelling or rescheduling appointments

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please notify us at least 48 hours in advance by calling 020 3819 6022 and we will help you with booking a new date. Early notice allows us to offer your slot to another patient in need.

If you cancel a second time, you may be referred back to your original healthcare provider unless you give us more than one month’s notice or there are exceptional circumstances e.g. caring responsibilities, health concerns, personal challenges etc.

Did not attend (DNA) policy

A DNA is recorded when a patient either fails to attend a scheduled appointment without informing Accelerate or cancels with less than 24 hours ‘notice.

The following consequences apply:

• Initial Assessment (1^st Appointment): 1 DNA results in automatic discharge
• Review Appointment: 2 consecutive DNAs result in automatic discharge

Once a patient is discharged due to not attending their appointment, they will need to be re-referred to our service.

Discharge criteria

• Patients who are stable / healed and can self-manage their condition with support and necessary prescriptions from their GP
• Patients whose needs are being met by their primary and / or social care providers
• Patients who chooses to decline care

We provide a discharge letter to the GP and any relevant local clinicians outlining recommendations for after care.

Compliment or complaint

We would love to hear from you and any comments which mean we can improve what we do.

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