Outpatients

Outpatient clinics operate to provide healthcare to patients who require an examination or treatment, but who are not required to stay in hospital overnight. Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) receives over 115,000 referrals and provides over 330,000 outpatient appointments each year.

The majority of RPH outpatient services are located in the Outpatient Department in O Block, Goderich St. Additional outpatient services are also provided within speciality areas in the main hospital A block, floors 2-11.

Visit the Outpatient clinic locations page for maps and directions to the various clinics.

Visit Our services to view all the specialties available at Royal Perth Hospital and ‘how to refer’ to us.

To be seen at RPH Outpatient Clinics, all patients need a referral from your GP, specialist or community health care provider. The referral provides written information including your details, history and information on what consultation or care you need. Patients may also be seen for continuing care after being discharged from hospital.

All referrals are reviewed by the speciality Doctors and assigned a priority based on the information provided, which decides when appointments are made.

For more information on your referral you can check acceptance and priority category using Manage My Care (external site). It may take up to a week after the referral has been sent to appear.

East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) continues to review our response to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation.

To maximise patient and staff safety, the way we deliver outpatient care has changed.

Where clinically appropriate, outpatient appointments are being provided via video call or telephone appointments. Read more below in Video Call.

Depending on your clinical condition, you may have a combination of in-person and video/phone call appointments. The hospital will contact you to advise of any change to your appointment.

Please use the Manage My Care (MMC) app to view your appointments. Any changes to your appointments will update within the MMC app as these occur. Read more below under Manage My Care.

The location section of your appointment letter and within MMC details whether your appointment will be via video call, phone call or in person at the hospital. If the appointment location listed is an outpatient clinic, you need to attend the hospital in-person for your appointment.

From Monday 22 February 2022 all patients attending Royal Perth Hospital for an outpatient appointment must complete COVID screening questions on arrival and some patients will be asked to have a rapid antigen test (RAT). You will receive a SMS notification the day prior to your appointment if you are required to have a RAT, and you will complete the RAT on arrival to the hospital. Please come to the Victoria Square Hospital entrance and show staff your SMS.

Only essential carers are permitted to attend the outpatient appointment with you. An essential carer will need to show prove of vaccination and if you require a rapid antigen test for your appointment, they will also require the test. Your carer can join you in an appointment from outside the hospital using a video or phone call, please let us know if you would us to do this for you and your carer.

Please note: vaccination restrictions do not apply to patients accessing the hospital for treatment. Healthcare is available to all patients – regardless of vaccination status.

Manage My Care (external site) gives you and those you care for more access to outpatient appointment and referral information than ever before.

Key features:

  • Easily see your outpatient appointments and referrals 24/7
  • Update your contact details (e.g. address, next of kin and phone numbers)
  • Request to reschedule, confirm or cancel upcoming outpatient appointments for select specialties
  • Access information about your appointment and hospital visit.

Manage My Care can be downloaded as a free app from the Apple Store or Google Play, or by visiting HealthyWA (external site).

Listed next of kin and/or preferred contact are also able to view and manage your outpatient appointments through Manage My Care if you give them permission to do so.

My Health Record (MHR) is an online summary of your health information.Picture of My Health App

WA Health will automatically upload to your My Health Record so you can conveniently access your health information.

You control what goes into your record, and who is allowed to access it. The MHR also allows you to share your health information with doctors, hospitals and other registered healthcare providers.

There are two approved apps in Australia that can be linked to your My Health Record and My Gov account information.

Download the myhealth app (external website) and Health Direct app (external website). 

 

Telehealth video or phone appointments are beneficial for patients who are looking to save time, travel and costs. Use this checklist (PDF 300KB) to see if a phone or video appointment is suitable for you.

Please discuss with your health professional if you would like to have a Digital/Telehealth appointment.

Video Call allows you to access your healthcare provider at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) using a computer, smart phone or tablet device on the internet. The quality of the review is the same as visiting a doctor in the clinic.

The following options are available:

  • Video call appointment at your place of residence
  • Video call appointment from a regional hospital closer to home
  • Telephone appointment

These appointments are confidential and secure. The staff at RPH will assist you to connect using your home/work computer, smart phone or tablet device via the internet. The Video Call is not recorded, however the doctor will make notes in your medical record.

Video call is available for all specialities at RPH. Some clinics are for procedures, investigations or require physical examinations. In these clinics we will need to see you in-person.

Could your next appointment be a Telehealth video appointment?

Outpatient appointments are made after referral from your General Practitioner (GP) or for further treatment after being discharged from hospital. Outpatient appointment information is then posted to patients.

Most outpatients receive a letter in the mail detailing their appointment approximately a month before the appointment. If the appointment has changed or is scheduled in a shorter time frame, you may receive a phone call or text message from us.

For information about your appointment, and in most clinics to request a reschedule you can use Manage My Care (healthywa.wa.gov.au) at any time. You can also reschedule or cancel an appointment by contacting Outpatient Direct on 1300 855 275, or the number on the bottom of your appointment letter.

Additional information is available for health professionals about outpatient referrals at Royal Perth Hospital.

When an outpatient appointment has been arranged, patients should bring to hospital or have available for telephone or video call appointments:

  • Your appointment letter or access to the appointment information within the Manage My Care app
  • Medicare card
  • healthcare card, pension card, safety net record
  • a list of current medications (including creams, eye drops and over the counter medications)
  •  copies of any private tests that have been undertaken regarding your illness, including xrays

Always keep your contact and General Practitioner (GP) details up to date by advising Outpatient Direct of any changes on 1300 855 275.

Patients are also advised that wait times for outpatient appointments can vary.

To help you make the right decisions about your health care, there are a number of useful questions (PDF 530KB) to ask at your medical appointment. These questions guide you on what to ask your doctor to ensure you get the care that is right for you.

  1. Do I really need this test, treatment or procedure?
  2. What are the risks?
  3. Are there simpler safer options?
  4. What happens if I don’t do anything?
  5. What are the costs?

More information is available on the Choosing Wisely website (external link).

For information about your appointment, and in most clinics to request a reschedule you can use Manage My Care (external site)at any time. You can also reschedule or cancel an appointment by contacting Outpatient Direct on 1300 855 275, or the number on the bottom of your appointment letter.

If Outpatient Direct is unable to assist with your enquiry, they may transfer you to the appropriate clinic or send a message to the clinic with your enquiry.

More information is available on the Outpatient Direct website (external site).

If any of your contact details have changed (address, telephone number), advise clinic staff or Outpatient Direct on 1300 855 275 as soon as possible.

It is important to keep your contact details up to date as the majority of appointment notifications will be sent in the mail or you may receive a phone call or text message from us. SMS reminders are also sent to your mobile telephone.

Also keep your General Practitioner (GP) details up to date by advising Outpatient Direct of any changes on 1300 855 275.

Patients are welcome to bring a carer or family member with them to their appointment. If they would normally attend your appointments we would encourage you to ask them to be with you for telephone or telehealth appointments.

At the current time we ask that only one person accompany you to a face to face appointment to support safe physical distancing.

If you would like a carer or family member to be able to speak with us on your behalf, please ensure that their details are listed as next of kin and/or preferred contact. This can be updated by speaking to clerical staff at your appointment, using Manage My Care at any time or by contacting Outpatient Direct on 1300 855 275.

Listed next of kin and/or preferred contact are also able to view and manage your outpatient appointments through Manage My Care if you give them permission to do so.

There are a number of ways to access RPH, including:

The majority of RPH outpatient services are located in the central Outpatient Department in O Block, Goderich St. Additional outpatient services are also provided within speciality areas in the main hospital A block, floors 2-11.

Numerous supporting services are located within the hospital including pharmacy & pathology collection service (Path West) in O block and MRI and imaging services R Block.

The location of your outpatient appointment is decided by the type of care you need, as determined by your doctor or healthcare professional, and which healthcare professional is best to deliver that care.

You will receive a letter with details about your appointment. These details include location, date, time and contact details for your appointment. You can also view all your appointment information using the Manage My Care App.

This information will be provided to you prior to your outpatient clinic appointment, so you can make necessary personal arrangements. More information is available in the RPH Outpatient Appointment Information Booklet.

For directions to your outpatient clinic, please download the RPH map or visit the enquiries desks located at the Victoria Square entrance to the hospital.

Visit the Outpatient clinic locations page for more information, including maps for each clinic.

Last Updated: 03/11/2023