Hospital Referrals and Waiting Times

Routine Referrals
Routine referrals are made when your condition requires specialist assessment but are not considered urgent. Once your referral has been processed, the hospital will contact you directly with appointment details.

Urgent Referrals
Urgent referrals are made when your GP believes you need to be seen more quickly by a specialist. These referrals are prioritised by the receiving hospital, and appointment times will vary depending on clinical urgency.

Two Week Wait (2WW) Referrals
If you have been referred under the NHS Two Week Wait pathway, the hospital aims to offer an appointment within 14 days. Please ensure your contact details are up to date and answer calls from unknown numbers.

Waiting Times
Routine referral waiting times are currently approximately 6 months, although this varies depending on the hospital, specialty and clinical priority.

Please note that once a referral has been sent, the practice has the same information available as the patient regarding appointment allocation and waiting times. Hospitals contact patients directly with appointment bookings, cancellations and updates.

If you have not heard from the hospital within the expected timeframe, please contact the hospital directly using the details below.

Hospital Contact Details

Important Information

• Please allow sufficient time for hospitals to process referrals.
• Routine referrals are currently taking approximately 6 months, although waiting times vary by specialty and hospital.
• The practice cannot speed up routine hospital appointments.
• The surgery has the same referral information available as the patient once the referral has been sent.
• Hospitals contact patients directly regarding appointments, cancellations and changes.
• If your symptoms worsen whilst waiting for an appointment, please contact the surgery.
• If you have not heard from the hospital within the expected timeframe, please contact the hospital directly.
• For medical emergencies, call 999 or attend the nearest Accident & Emergency Department.

Talking Therapies

Antenatal Care (Maternity Self-Referral)

Sexual Health Clinic

Smoking Cessation

Useful Information