Due to the COVID19 Pandemic millions of outpatient appointments have been cancelled and delayed in the NHS.
When patients contact local hospitals to find out when they might be seen or if their symptoms and condition has worsened, they are often asked to contact their GP and request an "expedite letter". This is frustrating for you and the surgery as it rarely results in appointments being brought forward.
Furthermore it is very difficult for a GP to measure to what extent your condition has worsened. We take your word for this and the hospital should do the same. When making decisions about who to prioritise, it is only possible for the hospital to compare your condition and needs against all the other patients on their waiting list.
Central Surgery has created two letters for you to use if you want to inform the hospital of a change in your symptoms. One is for patients waiting for a first appointment with a specialist. The second letter is for people waiting for a follow up appointment, treatment or operation.
Please download the template letter, completing your details and explaining the change in your symptoms. The letters are in Word format and only the areas highlighted in yellow can be edited.
You should post your letter to either Outpatient Appointments (for first appointments) or your Consultant's Secretary (for follow up care). Please click on these links for the addresses of North Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust and Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
In the event of a change in a potentially life threatening condition e.g. a known cancer, or heart and lung symptoms please contact Central Surgery, 999 or 111 in the first instance.
Expedite Letter Templates
First Appointment Letter (DOCX, 39KB)
Follow Up Appointment Letter (DOCX, 39KB)