Referrals

There are two types of referrals:

1)  Private: This is where patient decides who/where they want to be seen.  They book their own appointment at their chosen hospital and should allow 5-7 days for the GP to prepare a referral letter for them to take with them to their appointment.  The patient needs to advise the GP of the name of the consultant they have booked to see and their chosen hospital/physiotherapist etc.  The GP can then prepare the required letter addressing it personally.  The letter is then kept in the "Patients' Letter Collection" drawer which is in reception at our Purley surgery.  If a patient's usual surgery is Coulsdon it can be arranged for the letter to be sent/printed there for the patient's collection locally.

referrals

 

2) NHS: Historically, if your GP assessed that you required a review by a Specialist in Secondary Care (i.e. by a specialist in a hospital), their referral letter was sent to a central booking area, which all Croydon surgeries used, and they booked patients' appointments.

Recently this system has changed and we are now able to book our patients' appointments here in the surgery.

If a GP advises that you are being referred to a Specialist, could you please tell the GP which hospital you would prefer to attend. You will then receive a letter by post from the surgery containing details of your appointment plus how to change/cancel should you need to do so. It will also contain the two passwords you will need when discussing the appointment with your chosen hospital.

Please note:

MCATS and Podiatry Referrals - There is currently a 16-18 week wait for these appointments and patients should be advised of this by the referring clinician.

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