Referrals

Your GP will discuss with you and, if appropriate, your carer why a referral is being recommended. You are usually referred because your GP wants a specialist’s help in deciding how best to treat your condition or they do not have the equipment at the surgery for the required tests and investigations. If your GP needs to refer you to a consultant-led service for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you go to. If you do not express a preference, your GP will tend to refer you to a local hospital near where you live that is part of the local healthcare system.

Information for patients on Hospital Appointments

I have not received my follow-up appointment

If you have been seen at the hospital in the past, they may have told you that they would see you again in 3, 6, 9 or 12 months’ time. If you have not received your follow-up appointment, please contact the hospital department directly. You can find their telephone number on the clinic letter following your last appointment or on the hospital website. If you need a copy of this letter, please ask at the reception desk.

I have not received my scan, x-ray or surgery date, following a hospital appointment

If you were seen at the hospital and advised that you needed a scan, x-ray or surgery and you have not received a date to have this done, please contact the hospital department directly. You can find their telephone number on the clinic letter following your last appointment or on the hospital website. If you need a copy of this letter, please ask at the reception desk.

I missed my appointment and need another one

If you missed your appointment, whether it was your fault or you did not receive the appointment letter in time, you can request another appointment by calling the hospital outpatient appointment booking office. If you have missed x2 appointments, they may tell you that you need to be re-referred by your GP. If you need a new referral, please contact the practice secretary to arrange this.

I’m not sure of the date or time of my hospital appointment

If you need to confirm details of your hospital appointment, please contact the hospital outpatient appointment booking office.

I don’t know what time the community team is coming to my home

If you are under the care of a community team that comes to your home, ie. the district nurses or community physiotherapy and you want to know about your appointment, you will need to contact that team directly to find out.

My hospital appointment is too far in the future

Unfortunately, some departments at the hospital have long waiting times for patients to be seen. If your symptoms have significantly deteriorated since you were referred, the practice may be able to ask the hospital to bring your appointment forward. This can only be done if agreed by the GP. If the GP has asked for your appointment to be brought forward, the practice will either e-mail or fax the department asking for this to happen. Please note, this does not guarantee that your appointment will be brought forward. The consultant at the hospital will review the request and it is up to the hospital to decide whether they will offer you a sooner appointment. Once the practice has faxed or e-mailed the hospital with the request, you will need to contact the hospital department directly to find out whether this can be done.

I cannot get through to the hospital department or appointments office

If you cannot get through to the hospital, you can contact the hospital’s patient advice and liaison service for help. Please note that the practice does not have any special contact details for the hospital. If we need to contact them, we have to use the same number that you have been trying.

I have been referred to the hospital, but I have not received my first appointment

If you have not heard within one month of being referred, please contact the practice secretary to find out where your referral has been sent. The practice will be able to tell you when the referral was sent, and give you the contact details you will need to contact the service directly.