Specialist clinics

About first and new appointments

A patient can only have one first appointment, and this is recorded at the specialist clinic they were referred to.

A patient may have multiple new appointments. This occurs when a patient from one specialist clinic is also seen for the first time by a clinician from another specialist clinic. For example, a patient with diabetes may be referred to an endocrinologist and a dietician – they will have a new appointment for each specialty.

New appointment data is only recorded when a patient attends that appointment. First appointment data is recorded when a first appointment is booked, even if the patient does not attend.

Urgent first appointments are for those with more serious conditions that are recommended to see a clinician at a specialist clinic within 30 days from the date of referral.

Routine first appointments are for non-urgent patients who do not need to be seen by a specialist clinic within 30 days.

About review appointments

An appointment is counted as a review appointment if the primary purpose is to assess the patient following a previous specialist clinic appointment, or following treatment as an inpatient or day surgery patient.