Share your views about GP referrals
Have you or your loved one struggled to get a GP referral for tests or treatment?
Healthwatch England has been hearing from the public about how hard it can be to get a GP practice referral to another NHS service, and they would like to hear about your experiences.
GPs are the first point of call for many health issues and the gateway to specialist support. But with many GP surgeries stretched thin and under pressure, NHS decision-makers need to understand if people are finding it difficult to get the right help.
Examples of services your GP can refer you to include:
- Scans or tests for a diagnosis of a condition or health issue
- Mental health support
- Surgery for knees, hips and eyes
- Support like physiotherapy for back pain or arthritis
- Non-urgent heart problems
- Wellbeing services, like smoking cessation or diabetes management.
The impact of delayed referrals
GP referrals affect people of every age group, every background, and every region across the country. Some of the things patients have said include:
- People feel like their symptoms are dismissed
- They have to try multiple times before they’re successful
- They are left in the dark about how serious their condition is.
Share your views
As the independent champion of health and social care services, we want to hear your experiences of trying to get specialist NHS support, like physiotherapy, talking therapies, hospital scans and consultations.
By sharing your story, we can use your feedback to help the NHS better understand your challenges and improve how people access the care they need.
Find out more about GP referrals
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