Referrals
Our doctors will write a letter to the appropriate hospital department for referral. In urgent cases they will arrange an immediate appointment by telephone. If you need to see another of the health workers such as the community psychiatric nurse, the counsellor, the social worker, the osteopath, dietician or the district nurse the doctor can arrange this. In most cases, referrals are sent electronically.
Patient Referral Service
The Patient Referral Service PRS developed by Central London Healthcare streamlines the administration and booking of GP referrals to specialist care and treatment in hospitals and community-based clinics.
At the PRS, trained clinicians from our local practices look at patient referral requests which have been sent by GPs via the secure NHS electronic booking system (Choose and Book) and then short list services which are suitable for the patient’s medical and other needs. To support them, the PRS clinicians have access to up to date information about local hospital services as well as new community-based services that are increasingly available as an option for routine care.
To avoid delay in the patient receiving a suitable appointment, the PRS contacts the patient within four days of the GP visit. The PRS staff are trained to discuss the patient’s full choice of services (if required), and to give helpful information about details such as appointment availability and travel details. Once the patient has made their choice, the PRS advisor is able to book or request an appointment with the selected service.
How the service benefits you
• shorter waiting times for an appointment
• right appointment, first time (every patient referral is matched to clinically suitable services)
• no lost referral requests – all referrals will be tracked until a booking has been made
• single contact number for all referral queries
• informed choice about your service provider and appointment options
• signposting to new community services
You can find more information by following this link