Due to increasing waiting times for hospital outpatient appointments, GPs have seen a rise in patient requests to "expedite" their appointments. 

Hospitals often request patients obtain a letter from the GP so their appointment can be expedited. This is frustrating for you and for us and rarely results in your appointment being brought forward. Waitying a longer time for an appointment does not deem your request urgent. 

As a result, we are no longer able to write letters to expedite your appointment. 

If your condition has worstened and you feel you need to be seen sooner than other patients on the waiting llist, this is not something a GP can measure - only the hospital can compare your needs with those of other patients on their waitng list. 

Therefore we advise you to contact your specialist directly so they can assess your condition and make the necessary arrangements if an "expedite" of your appointment is appropriate. If you have difficluty in accessing your consultant, we advice you to contact the hospitals Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) departments for assistance. 

However, if the hospital is insistent that they require a letter, we have created the below templates for you to complete. Letters to expedite are generally best written from the patient's perspective rather than us providing information second hand to the consultant.  

(paper copies of these letters are available at the surgery)

You should post your letter to the secretary of the speciality you have been referred to e.g. Gastroenterology secretaries (for first appointments) or your names consultants secretary (for follow-up care). If you are unsure who your consultant is thenplease have a look at a recent clinic letter to find this information. 

Website - Royal Lancaster Infirmary :: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

Ashton Road

Lancaster

Lancashire

LA1 4RP

Website - Furness General Hospital :: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

Furness General Hospital

Dalton Lane

Barron-In-Furness

Cumbria

LA14 4LF

If you are under a speciality outside of the local area, for example Wrightington, then please ensure the letter is sent to the department secretary or your named consultant at the hospital. 

Please click on the links below to find the right address:

• Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery - Blackpool Victoria Hospital
• Immunology and Genetics - Manchester University NHS foundation Trust
• Neurology - South Cumbria Neurology Service based at Furness General Hospital
• Neurosurgery and Vascular - Royal Preston Hospital
• Orthopaedic/Pain Management - Owestry
• Orthopaedics - Wrightington

If you need interim management or feel acutely unwell, please contact our surgery and our clinical team will try our best to help you.