Telephone appointments

A telephone consultation is where you have an appointment over the phone. You won't need to travel to have your appointment. Many people prefer this type of appointment, as it is often more convenient and saves you both time and money. It also lowers the risk, for both you and others, if there are high levels of coronavirus or other infections in your local area.

Research shows that telephone appointments are effective. Your healthcare professional can still make good decisions about your treatment this way. You should get the same level of care as you would face-to-face. You can still choose to have a friend or family member with you during the call.

You will need:

• a well-charged mobile or landline phone
• a good, reliable phone signal
• somewhere quiet and private
• a comfortable chair
• a notepad and pen
• a list of any questions or other notes that you have made.

Privacy

Telephone appointments are just as private, confidential and secure as face-to-face appointments. Your healthcare professional will call you from a private room, with secure access to your medical records.

Preparing for your call

1. Write down any questions you have. This helps make sure you don’t forget any during the call.

2. Make a note of your osteoporosis history. For example:

• • when you were diagnosed
  • bones you have broken
  • any pain you have
  • your current and previous medications - including ones for osteoporosis, or supplements such as calcium and vitamin D
  • bone density scan (DXA) or other test results if you have them.

3. If you’re unsure, our specialist nurses are here to help.

How telephone appointments work

Your healthcare professional will call you. Telephone appointments can sometimes overrun. This means that as with face-to-face appointments, your appointment may start or finish a little late.

At the start of your call, the doctor or specialist will ask some security questions. This is to check they’re speaking to the right person.

During the appointment your healthcare professional may:

• tell you the reason for the call
• ask questions about your health
• make some assessments
• discuss their opinion and any recommendations
• give you an opportunity to ask any questions
• summarise the next steps
• tell you if they need to see you in person.

Take notes if you wish, although your healthcare professional will make a written record of your appointment. You can ask for a copy of this from your GP.

Any feedback

Telephone appointments became standard during the coronavirus pandemic. They are still very common, but not everyone is happy with this type of appointment. Let your healthcare professional know if you have any feedback or are worried about your care. They may be able to see you face-to-face instead.

Watch our discussion: 

Phone and video consultations have remained commonplace since lockdown. In this session, Julia and Kirsty help you prepare for these appointments. This film is part of our #BoneMatters series of events