Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's Consultant Secretaries department assists patients with renal clinic appointment enquiries, including scheduling, confirming, or changing appointments. They also connect patients with their specific renal consultant's secretary for non-urgent medical queries or administrative matters. Additionally, they provide support for arranging holiday dialysis. The department operates Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00. Callers may experience long wait times, especially during peak hours or after weekends. It is advisable to call earlier in the day or mid-week for a faster response.
Updated 15 Dec 2025
Expected outcomes
- Schedule clinic appointments
- Confirm appointment details
- Change appointment dates
- Contact consultant secretary
- Arrange holiday dialysis
Call preparation
Assemble everything before you dial. These requirements are verified by our call analysts and updated as organizations change their scripts.
- Patient details
- Appointment reference
- Consultant's name
- Travel dates
- Current dialysis schedule
- Hospital number
Known issues
Callers sometimes experience long wait times, particularly during peak hours or after weekends. To mitigate this, it is recommended to call earlier in the day or mid-week for a quicker response. Additionally, misdirected calls can occur, leading to multiple transfers before reaching the correct department. To avoid this, clearly state the consultant's name and your reason for calling at the beginning of the call. For urgent medical issues, contact your GP or emergency services instead of the hospital.
