Referrals

You have been referred to the hospital

This leaflet provides guidance on what to expect when you are referred by your GP to the hospital.  Please read this information carefully – it may save you an unnecessary trip to the surgery by talking this process through with your specialist. 

Tests and Investigations

All tests and investigations required by the specialists should be ordered by them and the appointments for these sent to you. If the specialist requires blood tests he/she should give you a request form, which you can take to whoever normally provides blood tests in your area. This varies and may be your surgery, hospital or community clinic.

The specialist is responsible for acting upon the results of any test he/she requests and for informing you of the results.

If you haven’t heard from the specialist about a test result, please ring his or her secretary at the hospital.  Unfortunately your surgery may not know the result and will not know what the specialist intended to do with the information.

Prescriptions

If your medication needs to be changed immediately the specialist should provide you with the first prescription. This may be on a white prescription that can be used in the hospital pharmacy or on a green one that you can take to your normal pharmacy.

Upon notification from the specialist (which may take a few days) your surgery may automatically add the medication change to your repeat list (if applicable) on the computer. You will then be able to order re-supply without an appointment. You may need to telephone your surgery to confirm this or ideally use on-line services if you have registered for them. 

If you are uncertain what changes the specialist is making please ask them to explain it to you at the appointment. It saves you having to see your GP to discuss something he or she may only know of from a short letter of explanation.

If you can’t work

If you need to be certified as unfit for work for a limited period as a result of a procedure or treatment provided by your specialist (or therapist), he or she should issue a sick note when you are discharged from hospital or seen in the clinic.  Please ask for one if you need

Making Appointments

If you need to be seen again the hospital will provide you with another appointment.  Please ask the specialists’ secretary it does not arrive in a timely way, or you can contact the booking office on 01909 502399 (Bassetlaw Hospital only).  If you haven’t heard about a scan, you can contact the medical imaging department on 01909 502499 (Bassetlaw Hospital only).

Summary of Specialist Responsibility

In summary, the specialists are responsible for:

• Looking after all your tests
• Providing prescriptions when needed
• Issuing a sick note if required
• Providing you with a follow up appointment if necessary.

Manage Your Referral

You may have been referred to a hospital for additional tests or consultations. Due to the number of referrals we make, we cannot chase them for you. You can check the progress of your referral by logging onto the e-Referral Service website or by logging into the NHS App. We have also provided a list of local hospitals’ telephone numbers on this page.

You can also:

• Find out when your appointment is
• Change or cancel your appointment
• Cancel your referral

Hospitals

The practice cannot chase the progress of referrals for you. If you would like to know your current position in the waiting list, or how long you are likely to be waiting, please contact the hospital directly.

Hospital	Telephone
Bassetlaw District Hospital	01909 572402
Barlborough Hospital	0333 2005276
Chesterfield Hospital	01246 277271
Claremont Hospital	0114 2630330
Doncaster Royal Infirmary	01302 642500
Jessops Hospital	0114 2711900
Kings Mill Hospital	01623 622515
Mansfield Community Hospital	01623 785050
Montagu Hospital	01709 585171
Newark Hospital	01636 681681
Northern General Hospital	0114 2434343
Rotherham Hospital	01709 820000
Royal Hallamshire Hospital	0114 2434343
The Park Hospital	0115 9662000
Thornbury Hospital	0114 2661133

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