Choice of hospital referral

[Anastasia17]

Hi, is it correct that we can ask to be referred anywhere we want to in the Uk? Ive asked to be referred to a hospital in London that has an endo clinic and offers endo support which is what I need the most at the moment, but when I asked my GP and the Referral Medical Secretary, she explained that I have to go to a hospital that is on their list.

Is their information correct?

Please could someone let me know?

Thank you.

[asoullessstatic]

I know in Scotland a Gp can only refer you to a hospital in the same NHS trust, normally you can get refered out of the area to another trust by a consultant. If you're wanting the specalist endo center you'll have to get a referal from a consultant gynecologist.

[Chinaxo]

Hello, yes you are correct, and your doctor and the secretary are taking nonsense I’m afraid. If you are in England you are able to go wherever you like - it is different in Scotland and they have less choice. There is no reason they should not give you a referral for a hospital outside of your borough unless you are asking for a private referral which becomes more difficult. I am in Essex and I go to a BSGE hospital Oxford, at my own request. If you have a great difficultly with them I would suggest speaking to the practice manager who should sort this for you. If all else fails the other way you can get this sorted is by seeing the consultant privately first, they will often have no problem transferring you on to their nhs list at an nhs hospital. They will write to your GP and request this and then the GP will do it for you. This way is obviously a pain as it costs you money when really it shouldn’t cost a thing.

Hope this helps x

[Moonglo]

Hallo my GP in Cambs happily referred me to a BSGE clinic in London (NHS). Try printing out this fact sheet from endo UK and showing it to your GP:

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

(Or go to the endometriosis dot uk dot org website, click on Information / Getting diagnosed with endo (left hand menu) / Getting diagnosed information pack)

[Anastasia17 in reply to Moonglo]

Thank you, I have printed it and I will use it if need be. 😊

[Roro1]

My GP in London referred me to my choice of doctor and the NHS hospital he works at.

[RicEndoUK]

Hi Anastasia17,

This page from the NHS might also help:

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

RicEndoUK

Volunteer Moderator

[Anastasia17 in reply to RicEndoUK]

Thank you. I am very grateful, this is really helpful and I will definitely print it.