Patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to your appointment with our hypertension and cardiac disease prevention service.

Before your appointment

The date and time of your appointment will be sent to you via a letter in the post. If there is any doubt that the letter will not arrive in good time you will be contacted by phone.

You are welcome to bring a family member, friend, guardian or carer with you to the appointment. If English is not your first language or you may need help with translation, then please do bring a relative or friend who is able understand English well in order to retain information and help organise your visit.

You are welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you.

Please follow the specific instructions in your appointment letter. 

For hypertension clinic appointments you are advised to wear a loose-fitting top to enable accurate blood pressure measurement.

For ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) appointments please wear a loose fitting top and bring a belt.

For an initial clinic visit you may be asked to fast overnight beforehand; if this is not specified then you are able to eat and drink as normal. If you are diabetic, please call the clinic for advice. You may want to bring a snack if you are going to be at the clinic for a while. There is drinking water available.

It is very important to bring all your medications to your appointment. Please remember to check your appointment letter for anything specific you may have been asked to bring with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• Full address and telephone number(s)
• Appointment card and appointment letter
• GP’s name and address
• A list of questions you may want to ask their consultant

During your appointment

Upon arrival please visit the main clinic reception. We will make every effort to ensure you are seen on time but sometimes a delay is unavoidable. Our team will ensure you are kept up to date about any delays.

The majority of patients can expect to be at the clinic for less than an hour. However, new appointments may take longer and you may need additional tests (such as blood tests or an ECG) on the same day so we would advise that you allow longer.

You will initially be seen by a specialist nurse who will measure your blood pressure and discuss lifestyle. You will then see a consultant or one of their team at your appointment. They will discuss the results of any tests you may have had as well as their findings and recommendations. You may be referred for further tests, or your condition will be further managed in the community. The doctor will discuss next steps with you.

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students or other healthcare professionals may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside.

After your appointment

Following your appointment, the doctor will make a diagnosis and will send recommendations and advice to your GP in a letter. You will receive a copy of this letter.

There are toilet facilities including a disabled toilet in the clinic, close to the waiting area. A water fountain is available. A shop and coffee shop are available a short distance away in the main hospital entrance hall.

Videos courtesy of the British Heart Foundation

The videos below, produced by the British Heart Foundation, can help you learn more about blood pressure and hypertension.

Understanding blood pressure

Check your pressure