Expedite Referral – Letter and Guidance
Millions of outpatient appointments and treatments were delayed in NHS hospitals during the pandemic. When patients contact the hospital they are sometimes told to ask their GP for an ‘expedite letter’.
This is frustrating for you and for us and rarely results in your appointment being brought forward.
If your gallbladder or arthritis pain is worse, if your mobility has reduced, or your tinnitus increased, this is not something that a GP can measure. We take your word for it and a hospital should too. Only the hospital can compare your needs with those other patients on their waiting list.
St Heliers Medical Practice has created two letters for you to use if you want to inform a hospital of a change in your symptoms. One is for patients waiting for a first appointment with a specialist, the second is for patients waiting for a follow up appointment, treatment or operation.
- In the event in a change of a potentially life-threatening health condition – for example a known cancer, or heart or lung symptoms – please contact the surgery or 111 in the first instance.
Referral Letter Templates
Please download and print your letter, completing your details in the grey sections and explaining the change in your symptoms. You should post your letter to either outpatient appointments (for first appointments) or your consultants secretary (for follow-up care).