What happens after a GP refers you to hospital?

What happens after a GP refers you to hospital?

Let’s go back a bit ..

What does it mean when you are referred to hospital by a GP – i.e why have I been referred?

Your GP will discuss with you – and, if appropriate, your carer – about why a referral is being done. It is usually because your GP wants the help of a hospital specialist (usually the most senior doctors called a hospital consultant) in deciding on the best way to treat your condition.

A hospital consultant is a specialist in one specific area of medicine, surgery or psychiatry.

But why? What can they add?

The hospital consultant may help in 5 ways:

1. Diagnosis – cause of what’s wrong with you
2. Hospital based tests – they may organise these, to help make the diagnosis
3. Treatment – if treatment is needed, they will organise it, or explain to your GP how to do that
4. Prognosis (outlook) – they should explain what will happen in the future
5. Long-term follow-up – they may offer medium or long-term follow-up of your condition.

Part of the reason for referral may to get a test or investigation that cannot be requested by a GP, or carried out at the GP’s surgery.

Your GP will also discuss with you what choices there are for where you can be referred. For example, you may be referred to a more distant hospital where the waiting lists are shorter.

Referral letter

Your GP will send a referral letter to the consultant. This will explain:

• What the problem is, and the GP’s question
• Your past history of illnesses and operations
• Your current medication.

This should be with the consultant on the day you meet them at the hospital.

We will now go through the process after the referral.

Step 1: Referral Receipt and Processing

• The hospital receives the referral from the GP. This is usually sent computer-computer these days
• The referral is reviewed to ensure it includes all necessary information
• The hospital’s booking team (sometimes called e-Booking or Booking Department) processes the referral.

• The hospital’s booking team sends (by paper; and usually by text now) an appointment
• The appointment details, including date, time, location, and any necessary instructions, are communicated to the patient
• The patient may be offered a choice of appointment dates and times.

• The patient may be asked to complete a health questionnaire or provide additional information
• The patient may need to undergo tests or investigations before the appointment
• The patient may be advised on any necessary preparations, such as fasting or stopping certain medications.

• The patient attends the hospital appointment
• It is usually with a hospital consultant, or a member of their team (e.g. registrar (middle-grade doctor) or specialist nurse)
• The hospital specialist assesses the patient’s condition and develops a treatment plan, which is sent by an electronic letter to the GP. You can ask to have a copy too.

• The patient may need treatment, which may involve medication, surgery, or other interventions. Alternatively, no significant treatment may be required and you may be ‘discharged’ (i.e. there is no need to see you again)
• The patient may be required to attend follow-up appointments to monitor their progress
• The specialist updates the GP on the patient’s treatment plan and progress, every time they are seen at the hospital – again, by electronic letter. Again, you can ask to have a copy too.

• If no further treatment is required, the patient’s care is transferred back to the GP, who continues to provide ongoing care and monitoring
• Or the hospital specialist will offer medium or long-term follow-up
• The patient may be referred back to that hospital team by their GP, for further treatment or follow-up appointments as needed.

Can other (non-GPs) refer you to hospital?

Yes. When you go to the GP these days, you may not be seen by a doctor. You may be seen by a Physicians Associate (PA), Clinical Pharmacist or specialist nurse. The GP will have checked that the referral is needed.