Referrals For Further Care

At times, it may be appropriate for the doctor to refer you to a hospital consultant. This would normally be done through the NHS “Choose and Book” system, which provides the patient with the opportunity to choose from a selection of hospitals and subsequently book the date and time of the relevant appointment. The doctor will advise you of the choice of hospitals available at the time of your consultation. Further details of the “Choose and Book” system are available within the surgery.

There may be occasions when it is not appropriate to refer you through the “Choose and Book” system, eg the service is not available or it represents continuing care. In this case, a referral letter will be sent to the hospital, who will subsequently contact you. If an appointment or acknowledgement is not received within four weeks (or two, if the referral is urgent), please contact the hospital.

Urgent referrals may be faxed, telephoned to the hospital, or provided as a letter or handwritten note which is given to the patient to take to the hospital.