My endocrinology appointment

Your child has a new appointment with the endocrinology team.

Endocrinology is the branch of medicine that deals with hormones. Hormones are chemicals that control various body functions and help children grow and develop. Hormones come from glands, which include:

• thyroid
• adrenal
• pancreas
• pituitary
• ovaries
• testes

As coming to hospital can cause people to feel anxious, we have provided some information about your visit so that you can talk to your child about what to expect. This is a general overview, so not all of this may apply to your child.

What do we do when we arrive at outpatients?

When you arrive, please register your child on one of the registration machines or at the reception desk so that we know you have arrived.

When it is time for your appointment, your child’s name will be displayed on the screens with the area (pink, orange or blue) and the room number you need to go to.

What is growth and measurement?

Before you see a member of the endocrine team, your child will have their height and weight measured in growth and measurement (pink area). We might ask for parents’ heights too.

Your child may be asked to undress down to their underwear for these measurements. This is to make sure the measurements are as accurate as possible. If you think your child might find this difficult or upsetting, please discuss it with them to prepare them before the appointment. Please make sure your child is wearing clothes that are easy to get on and off, as they may be asked later to get undressed again for an examination during their appointment.

You will then be asked to return to the waiting area until a member of the endocrine team is ready to see your child.

We try our best to see everyone at their appointment times, but sometimes things take longer than expected. If this happens, we apologise for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.

What happens during the appointment?

Your child will be seen by either:

• your named consultant
• one of their senior residents (doctors), or
• an endocrine specialist nurse in a nurse led clinic

They will ask you and your child questions and may want to examine your child.

For some conditions, the doctor or nurse will need to examine your child’s genitalia or breasts. We know this sort of examination can be uncomfortable, but the doctor or nurse will explain what they are going to do and why. Before any examination, they will ask for you and your child’s permission to do this. If your child is old enough, they will also ask who they would like to be present during the examination. This can either be you as their parent or carer, or a member of staff.

If your child is over 14, they may be given the opportunity to speak to the doctor or nurse without you present. This is to give them the opportunity to talk confidentially.

There may be a student doctor or student nurse in your child’s appointment too. Please let us know if you do not want them to be present.

What happens after the appointment?

Once the doctor or nurse has finished the consultation, they might give you a prescription, send your child for blood tests or for X-rays or scans.

You may be asked to come back to the hospital at a later date for further tests with the endocrine nurse specialists.

If the doctor or nurse has written a prescription for medication, please collect it from the Rowland’s pharmacy next to the pink area in outpatients.

If the doctor or nurse has requested blood tests, please go and sit back out in the main waiting area in outpatients and wait for your child’s name to appear on the screens to be called to the blood room.

If you have been asked to go for a scan or an X-ray, please go to the reception in outpatients and they can direct you to the radiology department.

Your doctor or nurse will inform you of results from any tests, but these can take between a few days to many weeks or months to process.

What if I cannot attend my appointment?

If you cannot attend your appointment, please contact Outpatients on 0114 305 3691 as soon as possible, so we can offer the appointment to another patient.