Referrals, Letters & Self Referrals

If you have attended an appointment with your GP & it has been confirmed that a letter or referral is required - please be aware that this can take around 7 to 10 working days to action; our Secretarial team will be guided by the GP's as to its urgency. During holiday periods / staff absence, this may take longer dependant on staffing levels.

NHS England, British Medical Association (BMA) and the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP), have come together to produce a patient facing leaflet which describes what a patient can expect to happen if they are referred by their GP to see a specialist or consultant at a hospital or a community health centre.

A copy of this leaflet is available at: www.england.nhs.uk/patientinterface or 'What happens when you are referred leaflet' (EXTERNAL PDF LINK)

Advice and Guidance prior to referral being made

When a GP provides advice and guidance to a patient, it typically involves the GP seeking expert opinions from specialists (like consultants) before or instead of making a referral.

This means the GP will use a system, often digital, to submit questions or requests for advice about the patient's condition, management, or treatment options. The specialist will then respond, providing advice that the GP can then use to manage the patient's care.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of what to expect:

1. GP initiates the request:

Your GP will use the system to create an advice and guidance request, including relevant patient information, medical history, and any specific questions they have.
2. Specialist review:

The specialist (e.g., a consultant) will review the request and provide advice based on their expertise.
3. Advice and guidance received:
The GP will receive the specialist's response, which might include:

Recommendations for diagnosis and management: The specialist might offer advice on how to proceed with further tests, treatments, or monitoring.

Request for more information: The specialist might need more details from the GP before they can offer specific guidance, in which case the advice and guidance request will remain open until the GP provides the requested information.

Recommendation for referral: If the specialist believes the patient needs to be seen by a specialist, they might recommend a referral, but the responsibility to make that referral remains with the GP.
4. GP acts on the advice:

Based on the specialist's advice, your GP will make decisions about your care, such as ordering tests, prescribing medication, or making a referral.
5. Patient informed:

The GP will explain the specialist's advice to you and discuss any recommendations or changes to your care plan. Key benefits of advice and guidance:

Provides access to expert opinion:

It allows GPs to get specialist advice without having to make immediate referrals, which can be beneficial for managing non-urgent conditions or when referral thresholds aren't met.

Supports shared decision-making:

It encourages a collaborative approach between GPs and specialists, leading to better patient care and outcomes.

Avoids unnecessary referrals:

It can help avoid unnecessary referrals to specialists, freeing up resources for those who truly need them.

Improves patient care:

By providing access to expert advice, advice and guidance can help ensure that patients receive the most appropriate and timely care.

Patient Contact Centre (PCC)

Princess Alexandra Hospital: 01279 827391

Patient Contact Centre is available for patients to enquire about follow up hospital appointments - please call 01279 827391. The PCC are able to speak to patients directly, and can provide information regarding whether you are currently on a consultant's waiting list, and when you may expect to get an appointment. On occasion they may even able to offer an appointment date.

The majority of patients can now speak to someone about their hospital appointment from 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 1.00pm Saturday thanks to the introduction of a new service.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has centralised the service for the majority of clinical areas to give members of the public the ability to discuss their hospital appointment and admission date.

Currently maternity and radiology are exempt but all other forms of appointments can be booked via telephoning:

01279 827391 for ‘new’ Outpatient Appointments
01279 827539 for Theatre or Day Stay bookings.

Patients who use the E-Referral System (previously known as Choose and Book) are given a booking reference number (UBRN) & will not need to access this new service because they will continue to run the NHS Appointment’s line (03456088888), nor will those who have had their appointment booked via the GP surgery or online.

If you need further advice regarding your referral / letter - please call our Secretaries on 01279 594450 option 4.

NHS e-Referral Service

Encouraging patients to book their own hospital or clinic appointments online, rather than by phone, saves practice time and can cut did not attend (DNA) rates by half. Steering people to self-manage their appointments via our manage your referral online service can make a valuable difference.

Help and support for patients waiting for a hospital appointment or operation

The My Planned Care website supports people waiting for a hospital appointment, operation or treatment, and gives them advice and support while they wait. This includes access to average waiting times at their hospital and other useful advice and local services.

Patients can check the website of their allocated hospital for any information they may need before contacting their hospital or GP practice. Carers, friends, relatives and NHS teams can also see this information and, if needed, help guide people through the detail.

The site is easy-to-use and updated weekly with other advice and information on how to manage pain, keeping healthy, looking after their mental health, accessing financial help and other local support services. The site can also help people to prepare for their appointment or operation, including practical suggestions about how to manage symptoms and help prevent these from getting worse.

Self Referral

Spectrum - Hertfordshire Drug & Alcohol Services

www.changegrowlive.org/spectrum-hertfordshire-drug-alcohol-services/hertford

Antenatal Care

The early bird service can be accessed from as early as five weeks pregnant. You can download a referral form to complete and return to us on earlybirdbooking.enh-tr@nhs.net alternatively you can contact your GP surgery to tell them you are pregnant and arrange your first midwife appointment. You will be sent a letter offering you an appointment within 10 working days, please read the information contained within the screening leaflet before you come to your appointment: www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk/services/maternity/early-bird-referal

HPFT - Mental Health Services

For mild to moderate mental health issues - Our Wellbeing Service offers short term support to people with mild to moderate mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Referrals are made via your GP or you can self refer via: www.hpft.nhs.uk/get-help

For urgent help or if you need to speak to someone call our Single Point of Access (SPA) Tel: 0300 777 0707 from 8.00am to 7.00pm
Email: hpft.spa@nhs.net
Alternatively, call our Out of Hours Helpline Tel: 01438 843322
www.iaptportal.co.uk/Home.aspx

Hertfordshire & West Essex NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

Contact ICS Health & Wellbeing
Telephone 0800 043 9806
Email info@preventing-diabetes.co.uk
Website www.preventing-diabetes.co.uk

Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) Adult MSK Physiotherapy Services Update

Please be advised that the EPUT MSK physiotherapy service at Herts and Essex Community Hospital is fully operational and able to offer patient assessments either face to face or virtually. They also have a number of group rehabilitation sessions which patients may attend.

Patients who require physiotherapy are able to self-referral to the service by accessing the link below:

eput.nhs.uk/our-services/musculoskeletal-physiotherapy-msk-herts-and-essex-community-hospital

This link will also take patients directly onto the MSK physiotherapy webpage where further advice and guidance may be accessed including patient information leaflets.

Refuge - Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service

Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm

The Refuge–Hertfordshire IDVA service provides confidential, non-judgemental and independent support for women and men (aged 16+) living in the Hertfordshire area who are experiencing:

Domestic violence and abuse
Coercive control, intimidation, threats, physical abuse, emotional abuse
Sexual abuse within an intimate relationship
Forced marriage
So-called 'honour'-based violence
Female genital mutilation

We have 13 independent domestic violence advocates (IDVAs) who operate across the county and can provide tailored, one-to-one support and also signpost to local external agencies.

Who to contact Telephone 0300 790 6772
E-mail: hertsidva@refuge.org.uk
Website: www.refuge.org.uk

Where to go - our address is confidential, we provide a service to people throughout Hertfordshire

Referral required: No