If you have recently been referred by one of our clinicians to a hospital or specialist service, you may understandably want to know what happens next and how long you are likely to wait.
At School Lane Surgery, our team works hard to ensure referrals are processed and submitted as quickly as possible. Urgent referrals, including suspected cancer (Two Week Wait) referrals, are sent on the same day. Routine referrals are generally processed within five working days and often sooner.
Once your referral has been sent, you will receive confirmation via SMS so that you know it has been submitted. Occasionally, referrals may take slightly longer if additional clinical information is required before they can be sent, but our team always aims to process them as promptly as possible.
After a referral has been submitted, it is reviewed and managed by the hospital or specialist service. Appointment and treatment waiting times are determined by the receiving organisation based on clinical priority, demand and available capacity.
Check Your Waiting Time with My Planned Care
To help patients access up-to-date information about hospital waiting times, the NHS provides a free service called My Planned Care.
This resource allows you to:
- Check average waiting times for your hospital and specialty.
- Compare waiting times at nearby hospitals and treatment centres.
- Access advice and support while you wait.
- Find information about preparing for appointments, procedures and surgery.
- Access health and wellbeing resources to help you stay as well as possible during your wait.
Before Contacting the Practice
If you are waiting for a routine hospital appointment or treatment, we encourage you to check My Planned Care first. The information is updated regularly and is often the quickest way to understand current waiting times and what to expect next.
Once a referral has been accepted by the hospital, the hospital is responsible for managing your place on the waiting list and arranging appointments.
When Should You Contact Us?
Please contact School Lane if:
- Your symptoms have significantly worsened since your referral was made.
- You have developed new symptoms that may require reassessment.
- You believe your condition has become urgent.
- You have been advised by the hospital to seek further review from your GP.
- You are unsure whether your referral has been submitted and have not received confirmation from us.
Please remember that waiting times shown on My Planned Care are averages and may change over time. Individual waiting times can vary depending on your condition, clinical priority and the service you have been referred to.
We understand that waiting for appointments and treatment can be frustrating. Our team will continue to support you with your healthcare needs. However, for updates on hospital waiting lists, appointment availability and estimated waiting times, My Planned Care is often the best source of the most up-to-date information.
Visit My Planned Care to check waiting times and access support while you wait.