Referrals
How and when we refer you for specialist care
Sometimes, the care you need goes beyond what we can provide at the practice. In these cases, your GP or clinician will refer you to a specialist team who can carry out further investigations, tests, or treatment.
A referral is a formal request from us to a specialist service, explaining your symptoms, history, and why further input is needed. It's an important clinical decision, which is why we ask you to consult with one of our clinicians first, so they can properly assess your situation.
Please note: we can't make a referral without an appointment, unless you already have a medical letter from another clinician.
How referrals work
- ›Book an appointment so a clinician can assess your symptoms and medical history.
- ›If specialist input is needed, your clinician will refer you to the appropriate secondary care team — usually based at a community clinic or hospital.
- ›We'll send the referral electronically, and you'll usually be contacted directly by the specialist service to arrange your appointment.
- ›Waiting times vary between services and hospitals, and are outside of our control — if you're concerned about a delay, you can contact the receiving service directly using the details on your referral letter.
Types of referral
Not all referrals are the same — the type made depends on how urgently your clinician feels you need to be seen.
Private referrals
If you have private medical insurance and need a referral letter to support a claim or appointment with a private consultant, we can usually arrange this without needing a face-to-face appointment. Use the request link below and our team will be in touch about next steps.