The surgery receives many enquiries requesting that we write a letter to chase or expedite a Hospital appointment or operation.  

We are aware that this sometimes occurs because patients are told by a specialist’s secretary to get a letter from their GP, so that their appointment can be brought forward, however this advice is inappropriate.  

Due to the NHS contract changes from April 2017, hospitals are now obliged to respond to any queries you might have about your care, in very much the same way that we as a GP respond to patient queries. Accordingly, hospital matters should not fall to your GP to resolve. We do not ultimately have control over a hospital appointment schedule and any information you pass on to us would simply be passed over to your specialist. 

If you are experiencing worsening of your symptoms, we advise you to contact your specialist’s secretary directly, so they can assess your condition and make the necessary arrangements to expedite your appointment if appropriate. If you have difficulty in accessing your specialist, we advise you to contact the hospital booking office for assistance.  

If the hospital is insistent that they require a letter, we suggest you copy the templated letter below, completing your details along with your reason for contacting them.

Once you have completed this, you can post your letter to the Outpatient Appointment (first appointments) or your consultant secretary (booked appointments or follow-ups).