If your GP has referred you to a hospital, community service, or specialist clinic, the referral will be processed and sent to the appropriate service.
What Happens Next?
- Most referrals are sent electronically.
- You may receive a letter, text message, email, or phone call from the hospital or service provider regarding your appointment.
- Waiting times vary depending on the service, speciality, and urgency of your referral.
- Once your referral has been accepted by the receiving service, appointment scheduling and waiting list management become the responsibility of that service.
Tracking Your Referral
For referrals made through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS), you may be able to book, change, or cancel your appointment using the booking reference provided.
If you have not heard from the receiving service within the expected timeframe, please contact them directly where possible, as they will have the most up-to-date information regarding your referral and appointment.
Referral Processing Times
- Routine referrals are usually processed by the practice within 5 working days.
- Urgent referrals are processed as quickly as possible and according to NHS guidelines.
- Two Week Wait (suspected cancer) referrals are prioritised and managed under national targets.
Referral Waiting Times
Waiting times vary depending on the type of referral, the speciality, and local service demand.
Urgent Cancer Referrals (Two Week Wait)
If your GP makes an urgent suspected cancer referral, you should be offered your first specialist appointment within 2 weeks.
General Urgent Referrals
For urgent non-cancer conditions, hospitals aim to offer an appointment within 1–2 weeks, although this can vary depending on clinical priority and local service capacity.
Urgent Mental Health Referrals
- Very urgent mental health presentations should receive a face-to-face assessment within 4 hours.
- Urgent community mental health referrals are generally assessed within 24 hours.
Routine Referrals (Non-Urgent)
The NHS standard is that patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment for routine elective care.
However, waiting times vary considerably between hospitals and specialities. Due to high demand and NHS backlogs, some services may have longer waiting times than the national standard. Across England, the average wait for a first outpatient appointment is often around 13–14 weeks, although some high-demand specialities such as Dermatology, Orthopaedics, and ENT may have longer waiting times.
Hospital Waiting Lists
The practice cannot influence hospital waiting lists or appointment availability once a referral has been accepted by the receiving service.
If you would like an update on your referral, appointment date, or position on a waiting list, please contact the hospital or service directly.
Contacting the Practice About a Referral
Please contact the practice if:
- You believe your referral has not been sent.
- You have been advised by the hospital that further information is required from your GP.
- Your personal details have changed since the referral was made.
- You have been asked to contact the practice regarding your referral.
Please note that the practice cannot provide updates on hospital waiting lists or appointment dates once your referral has been received by the hospital or service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I know if my referral has been sent?
Once your GP has completed the referral, it will be processed and sent to the appropriate service. If you are unsure whether your referral has been sent, please contact the practice.
For e-RS (Electronic Referral Service) referrals, you will receive an email notification once your referral has been processed.
How long will I wait for an appointment?
Waiting times vary depending on the speciality, hospital, urgency of referral, and local demand. Please refer to the Referral Waiting Times section above for general guidance.
I have not heard anything about my referral. What should I do?
If it has been several weeks since your referral was made, please contact the hospital or service directly before contacting the practice, as they will have the latest information regarding your appointment.
Can the practice tell me where I am on the waiting list?
No. Once your referral has been accepted, the hospital or service manages the waiting list and appointment scheduling. The practice does not have access to this information.
Can I change the hospital or clinic I have been referred to?
In many cases, patients can choose from a range of providers through the NHS e-Referral Service. If you wish to discuss changing your referral destination, please contact the practice.
I have lost my NHS e-Referral booking reference. What should I do? Please contact the NHS e-Referral Service on 0345 608 8888 or the practice for advice. You may be asked to confirm your details before the information can be reissued.
What is a Two Week Wait referral?
A Two Week Wait referral is an urgent referral made when your GP feels that your symptoms require further assessment under the NHS suspected cancer pathway. This does not mean you have cancer, but it ensures that you are seen by a specialist as quickly as possible.
Who do I contact if I need to rearrange my appointment?
Please contact the hospital, clinic, or service that arranged your appointment directly. The practice cannot rearrange hospital appointments on your behalf.
My personal details have changed since my referral was made. What should I do?
Please inform both the practice and the hospital or service to ensure your contact details are up to date and you do not miss important correspondence.
Can the practice speed up my referral or appointment?
The practice cannot expedite routine referrals once they have been accepted by the hospital. If your condition has worsened significantly while waiting, please contact the practice for a clinical review, as a GP may need to reassess your condition and referral priority.
