Referrals

Referrals for specialist care

You’re entitled to ask for a referral for specialist treatment on the NHS. However, whether you’ll get the referral depends on what your GP feels is clinically necessary in your case.

If you wish to be referred to a specialist in a particular field (such as a surgeon or a gynaecologist), you should see a GP at you’re registered Surgery as your GP generally understands your health history and treatments better than anyone else and will base any decision for a specialist referral on this knowledge.

If you ask your GP to refer you to a specialist, they’ll probably suggest that you first try various tests or treatment options to see whether your condition improves.

Generally, you cannot self-refer to a specialist within the NHS. A specialist will only see you with a letter of referral from your GP. The letter will give the specialist essential background information, such as your medical history, and it’ll also contain details that the specialist needs to pay particular attention to.

Booking Your Referral Appointment

When a referral is made on your behalf, you may be offered a single specialist provider for your care (e.g. Rotherham), or you may be offered the opportunity to choose from up to 5 different providers (e.g. Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley, Sheffield, Thornbury).

If you opt for, or are provided with only a single referral option then you do NOT need to take any action yourself and you will be contacted and allocated an appointment by the specialist.

If however you opt for, or are offered, a selection of choices for your specialist care, then you will need to manage your own referral. Managing your own referral offers patients the following benefits:

• Choose a Location convenient for you
• Choose a Date and Time of your initial appointment convenient for you
• Choose a Provider with a shorter Waiting List meaning you are seen sooner

Book an appointment: Manage Your Referral

If you’ve already been referred to a specialist through the NHS e-Referral Service, booking your appointment online is easy, safe and secure via the NHS e-Referral Service booking website: Manage Your Referral.

You’ll need your:

• booking reference number
• password or access code

Book an appointment: NHS App

You can also use the NHS App to book or manage your appointment. The app also features health advice, and you can order repeat prescriptions and view your GP health record.

Choosing your hospital or clinic

You may have more than one hospital or clinic to choose from. But the options will be the same if you book online or over the phone.

Consider all the options before choosing a hospital or clinic and appointment slot.

For example:

• How long do I have to wait for my first appointment?
• How quickly can I start my treatment?
• How far away is the hospital or clinic?

In most cases, you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you’d like to go to. This includes private hospitals, as long as they provide NHS services.

Learn more about your choices in the NHS.

Private Referrals

If you want to see a private specialist, you’re still advised to get a letter of referral from your GP.

Whether you see a private specialist, with or without a GP referral, or are referred to an NHS specialist, your GP is not obliged to accept the specialist’s recommendations.