Referrals

Referrals

Once a referral has been directed to our referral facilitator, it goes out of the Practice control.  Any queries about the appointment, the type of appointment you have received or the wait for your appointment need to be directed to the patient service hub on 01522 573200.

All referrals are reviewed by a consultant when they reach the hospital and are then triaged, this does mean that even if your referral has been sent as urgent it could be changed to routine if the consultant deems fit. This is beyond our control.

It is the patient’s responsibility to chase their own hospital appointments, once the referral has left the surgery and been accepted by the hospital it is out of the surgery’s control and responsibility.

Want to expedite your appointment?

As of June 2025, ULHT advised that GP surgeries are not to send expedite letters as they do not usually act on these and the patient is to contact the hospital appointments team themselves to request an appointment. 

For contact details please see this website: https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/patients/outpatients/ive-been-referred-to-ulht-for-an-outpatient-appointment-what-happens-next/contacting-your-outpatient-appointment-booking-team/

If you have been referred outside of Lincolnshire we can still send expedite letters if there is a clinical need.  

Waiting for a Hospital Appointment or Treatment?

We understand that waiting for hospital care can be really difficult, especially if you're in pain or worried about your health.

You can check the average waiting times for your local hospital by visiting: www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk

Further information

If you want any further information on this please visit the Lincolnshire LMC website: https://www.lincslmc.co.uk/waiting-for-hospital-care-expedite-letters-2/

Page last reviewed: 11 August 2026
Page created: 07 March 2022