Referral times?

lostinrates

Does anyone know if there is a time limit within which a GP is meant to make an NHS referral at the request / advice of a consultant?

Tbc, I am not asking about waiting times once one has seen that department but from the time the GP should be making that referral issue or surgical need identified?

peachyprice

I'm not really sure TBH.

Have you been into the surgery since seeing the consultant? My GP tends to do referrals on her computer while you're sitting there with her. Maybe that's a way forward if you feel you've been waiting too long?

lostinrates

peachyprice wrote: »

I'm not really sure TBH.

Have you been into the surgery since seeing the consultant? My GP tends to do referrals on her computer while you're sitting there with her. Maybe that's a way forward if you feel you've been waiting too long?

No, GP advised me not to bother. ( specifically because I see a lot of consultants and make many hospital visits that result in action, but this is a referral for NHs action, which doesn't happen so often in my case, and when it does often just happens by the consultant on to their own list, but this is to a different list out of geographical area of my GP.

I just wanted to know if there was a time reasonable to expect before wasting time other patients could use.....my practice can be quite slow anyway, but if there was a sort of statutory x months I'd not worry for that period of time.

Indie_Kid

I don't think one exists. But when I've had referrals, I've normally waited a month or so before chasing it up if I've not heard anything.

I'm sure the receptionist can check if the referral has bene made?

lostinrates

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I don't think one exists. But when I've had referrals, I've normally waited a month or so before chasing it up if I've not heard anything.

I'm sure the receptionist can check if the referral has bene made?

Thanks. Receptionists at our practice are no longer allowed to give this sort of information after they have made too many errors in information relaying.

Dizzy_Ditzy

It depends on how long it has taken the hospital to write the letter to your gp and whether they've actually read it or just scanned it so its on your notes. You should query it in about a month if you've not heard anything

You'd be amazed how many gp's don't read letters from the hospital

meritaten

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

It depends on how long it has taken the hospital to write the letter to your gp and whether they've actually read it or just scanned it so its on your notes. You should query it in about a month if you've not heard anything

You'd be amazed how many gp's don't read letters from the hospital

That's because the receptionists just open the letters and put them in the patient files and put them back into the 'filing cabinet'.
ALWAYS chase up consultants letters - learned this the hard way after having to complain about GP not noting changes in medications.

lostinrates

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

It depends on how long it has taken the hospital to write the letter to your gp and whether they've actually read it or just scanned it so its on your notes. You should query it in about a month if you've not heard anything

You'd be amazed how many gp's don't read letters from the hospital

My consultant's secretary had the letter sent the next day, so I have a reliable idea of time sent, ( because I got one too).



Ok thanks. I get it, the only realistic way is to see GP or make a telephone appt. Its a shame to take up appointment time with this:( thanks. I was just hoping there would be some kind of expected time frame.

FBaby

It should be 48 hours, but it is not a target, so not something that is really monitored, just good practice.

Call every day always remaining polite until reception can confirm it has been done. It might be that he has been away/ill etc...

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

If your consultant is requesting a referral, then you need to chase it as others have said - they are quite useless on occasion and some secretaries need their heads banging together.

Give them a ring to chase.

lostinrates

Just an update.

Despite chasing with his secretary I just found out from GP that he hadn't attended to this yet.

Frustrated, but at least its actioned now.