If you are on a number of medications and still pay prescription charges then you may well find that it is cheaper to have a "season ticket" to cover all prescription charges for a year.
You can get information here
If your GP wishes to refer you to the Queen Mary's department they may do so direct by letter, or through the "Choose and Book" system. This latter is suffering from some teething troubles, so you may have to be patient. You will receive a confirmation letter from the hospital. All patients will currently be seen within the target waiting time of 13 weeks, but all referrals are seen by the consultants, and any that are judged to be urgent will be seen sooner.
To ensure that patients are seen speedily your appointment may be booked either at Queen Mary's or at Erith Hospital. While we endeavour to choose the nearest to you it is not always possible, so do check your confirmation letter to be sure which hospital you should attend.
Referrals for back pain are triaged by our specialist service. You may not necessarily see a rheumatology consultant initially, but if it is appropriate then your referral will be passed directly to one of them. Please note that the Queen Mary's Orthopaedic surgeons do not operate on backs and so no longer see patients with back pain. Any back pain referrals sent to Orthopaedics will be returned to your GP. To learn more about our back pain service go to the "Information for GPs" section.
We endeavour to see patients within 10 minutes of the time of their appointment; however, complex cases may take longer than expected to sort out. Please be patient if there is a delay.
New patients are seen, as far as possible, on a "one-stop" basis. if you are attending for the first time please bring a list of your current medication with you. Blood tests can be done for morning clinics; X-ray is open every weekday.
Should you be unable to attend an appointment please let the department know at the earliest possible opportunity by phoning 020 8300 8787 (Queen Mary's) or 020 8308 3131 (Erith)
Queen Mary's
The Outpatient Department is at Junction 8 off the main corridor, level 1 (follow the Blue Line). The nearest entrance is the main A&E/Outpatient entrance. Car parking (Pay and Display) is limited and patients might prefer to be dropped off if accompanied. There are limited disabled parking slots.
Buses: 269 (Bexleyheath/Bexley/Sidcup/Chislehurst/Bromley); R1 (Bromley Common/Orpington/St Paul's Cray); R11 (Green St Green/Orpington/Sidcup); B14 (Bexleyheath/Albany Park/Sidcup); 229 (Thamesmead/Erith/Bexleyheath/Sidcup); 286 (Greenwich/Eltham/Sidcup). Most of these stop within 50-150 yards of the Outpatient entrance.
Erith Hospital
Outpatients is off Park Cresent, opposite Ling Road. See the map for details. Parking is reasonable.