What happens when you are referred by your GP to see a specialist?

Your Hospital Referral: What Happens Next and Who to Contact

 

Your clinician has decided that a referral to hospital/specialist secondary care is appropriate for your condition.

Because waiting times vary across the NHS and secondary care operates under specific guidelines, we want to explain what happens next, what you should expect, and who to contact while you are waiting.

How Your Referral Works

Your clinician will securely submit your clinical referral to the specialist hospital service via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS).

A hospital consultant will review the referral details and grade its urgency (for example: Routine, Urgent). The hospital will contact you directly with an appointment date or waiting list confirmation.

You can track your referral using the NHS app.

Under the NHS Standard Contract, responsibilities are clearly divided between your hospital specialist team and your GP surgery

To view the Responsibilities - The Hospital vs. Your GP Surgery, please see the attached file

 

Who Should You Contact While Waiting?

To check where you are on the hospital waiting list:

Please contact the hospital central outpatient appointments department directly:

·         Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals (ASPH) Appointment Call Centre: 01784 884351 / 01932 723831

·         ASPH Main Switchboard: 01932 872000

·         Surrey and Borders Partnership (Mental Health): 0300 456 8308

 

If you experience substantial communication breakdowns with the hospital, you can contact the hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at: asp-tr.palsandcomplaints@nhs.net or 01932 723553.

 

If your symptoms change or worsen:

If your symptoms deteriorate significantly, or you develop new symptoms of concern, please contact our surgery. We can submit an expedited clinical update to secondary care or re-assess your condition.

For severe, life-threatening symptoms, dial 999 or attend your nearest Emergency Department (A&E) immediately.

 

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us manage your referral safely and effectively.

 

Warm regards,

The Clinical and Administrative Team

St David's Family Practice

Attachment

Published on 21 September 2026