Hospital appointment letter explained

What this kind of letter means

Your GP has referred you to a heart specialist about your palpitations. Your appointment is on Wednesday 2 December at 2:30pm. If you can't go, tell them at least 48 hours before, or you could be sent back to your GP and have to start again.

This is a routine outpatient appointment with a cardiologist (heart specialist) to look into palpitations, which means noticing your heartbeat, like fluttering or pounding. You may have an ECG on arrival, a quick, painless recording of your heart's electrical activity using stickers on your chest. If you miss the appointment without telling them, the hospital may 'discharge' you, which means you'd need a new referral from your GP and would wait again. This is general information about your letter, not medical advice.

Things worth checking

• Get help before your appointment if your symptoms get worse: contact your GP or NHS 111.
• Call 999 if you have chest pain, faint, or feel very unwell with palpitations.
• Bring a list of all your medicines, including ones you buy yourself.

Your options

• Confirm you're going. Not always required, but a quick message helps if you need support like an interpreter.
• Rearrange if you need to. Call at least 48 hours before, then send a written message as a record.
• Prepare your questions. Letter Clear has written some to take with you.

If you ignore it

If you don't go and don't tell them, you may be discharged back to your GP and need a new referral, which means waiting again.

The rules

• Letter Clear explains what your letter says. It doesn't diagnose. For advice about your results, contact your GP. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
  England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. Source: NHS 111

Rules last checked 13 November 2026.

Words you might see

• Cardiology: The part of the hospital that deals with the heart.
• Palpitations: Being aware of your heartbeat: fluttering, pounding or skipping.
• ECG: A quick, painless test that records your heart's rhythm using stickers on your chest.
• Discharged to GP: The hospital closes your referral, so your GP would need to refer you again.

An example reply

From our worked example. Letter Clear writes one for your own letter, in your name.

Dear Appointments Team,

Hospital number: RX4471209

Thank you for my letter dated 11 November 2026. I confirm I will attend my Cardiology appointment on Wednesday 2 December 2026 at 14:30.

[Optional: I will need [interpreter / wheelchair access / other support].]

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Date of birth]

Have a letter like this?

Take a photo or paste the text. Letter Clear tells you what it means, your deadline, and writes a reply you can check and send. Your first letter each month is free.