Types of conditions seen in Specialty Outpatient Clinics as detailed in the Specialist Outpatient Waiting Time Report

Please note: This is not a complete list but examples of the types of conditions or problems seen in these types of clinics.

To see the median and maximum waiting time for a particular specialty, see the Specialist Outpatient Waiting Time Report.

Below are the types of outpatient speciality clinics and what they mean.

Breast

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems relating to their breasts.

Cardiology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for heart conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and problems with heart valves or arteries. Patients may have tests such as heart monitoring and exercise stress tests.

Cardiothoracic

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for a wide range of heart and lung conditions.

Craniofacial

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems of the head, skull, face, neck and jaw.

Dermatology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for skin disorders including skin cancer and skin allergies such as eczema/psoriasis.

Developmental disabilities

Patients with complex health conditions and developmental concerns attend this clinic to be assessed and receive treatment.

Ear, nose and throat (ENT)

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions related to the ear, nose and throat, such as tonsillitis, sinus problems and hearing loss.

Endocrinology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems with the thyroid glands in the neck, brittle bones or osteoporosis, calcium deficiencies and diabetes management.

Epilepsy

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for a condition that affects the brain and nervous system called epilepsy.

Gastroenterology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions related to the stomach and bowel such as chronic stomach pain and acid, ulcers and reflux. 

General medicine

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for a range of problems and conditions related to the internal organs. This clinic may be the first step to diagnosing what the problem may be and then refer patients onto another more specialised clinician.

General surgery

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems that may need surgery, or have recently had surgery. Conditions can include abdominal pain, hernias and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Geriatric medicine

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for a range of medical conditions associated with older age that may affect the person’s ability to live independently. This may include a history of falls, bladder problems, inability to get around and memory loss.

Gynaecology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems relating to their reproductive organs such as the womb or ovaries.

Gynaecology oncology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for cancer of women’s reproductive organs.

Haematology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions of the blood such as leukaemia and blood iron levels.

Hepatobiliary

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions that affect the liver and the gallbladder.

Immunology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for allergies, severe reactions to things (anaphylaxis) and treatment of immunity related problems.

Infectious diseases

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for infectious diseases or who may be at risk of an infectious disease.

Medical oncology (consultation)

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for cancer.

Metabolic bone

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for disorders related to bones that may have become weakened and further care and management of the condition is needed.

Nephrology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions of the kidney, bladder and raised blood pressure and sometimes have treatment such as dialysis.

Neurosurgery

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for nervous system problems and are likely to need surgery, or have recently had surgery.

Ophthalmology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems with the eyes, such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and squints.

Orthopaedics

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions of the bones, such as fractures, hip and knee problems, osteoarthritis and muscle related injuries.

Paediatric medicine

Infants, children and teenagers generally under the age of 18 attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for a range of medical conditions. This clinic may be the first step to diagnosing what the problem may be before a patient is seen by a more specialised paediatrician.

Paediatric surgery

Infants, children and teenagers generally under the age of 18 attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for a range of conditions that are likely to need surgery. 

Pain management

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for long term pain.

Palliative care

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions that are not curable. Consultations in these clinics are with patients and families to address problems associated with having a life-threatening illness.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions needing surgery to correct or improve parts of the body following injury or disease. Examples may be having a hand rebuilt after an accident or removal of a skin lesion.

Psychiatry

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for mental illness, emotional and behavioural conditions. 

Radiation oncology and radiation therapy (consultation)

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for cancer using radiotherapy.

Rehabilitation - medicine

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions that may have caused significant reduction in body function due to accidents, illness or medical procedures with the aim of reducing any disability.

Respiratory

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for conditions of the lungs, wind pipe, and the nerves and muscles needed for breathing such as asthma and chronic lung diseases.

Respiratory - Cystic Fibrosis

Respiratory - Cystic Fibrosis

Rheumatology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated problems related to joints, muscles and bones, such as arthritis.

Sleep disorders

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea.

Spinal

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for spinal problems.

Urology

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems associated with the urine and bladder system. This could include blood in the urine, cancer of the kidney/bladder/prostate/testis/penis and stones in the tubes to the bladder. Vascular Surgery Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems with blood supply through veins and arteries to the body such as problems getting blood to hands and feet that may be the cause of ulcers or swelling.

Vascular surgery

Patients attend this clinic to be assessed and treated for problems with blood supply through veins and arteries to the body such as problems getting blood to hands and feet that may be the cause of ulcers or swelling.