Your GP has joined with others in the area to set up a central service providing you with a fast and efficient way to choose appointments for hospital and specialist clinic services.
The Patient Referral Service (PRS) developed by Central London Healthcare streamlines the administration and booking of GP referrals to specialist care and treatment in hospitals and community-based clinics.
At the PRS, trained clinicians from CLH practices look at patient referral requests which have been sent by GPs via the secure NHS electronic booking system (Choose and Book) and then short list services which are suitable for the patient’s medical and other needs. To support them, the PRS clinicians have access to up to date information about local hospital services as well as new community-based services that are increasingly available as an option for routine care.
To avoid delay in the patient receiving a suitable appointment, the PRS undertakes to contact the patient within four days of the GP visit. The PRS staff are trained to discuss the patient’s full choice of services (if required), and to give helpful information about details such as appointment availability and travel details. Once the patient has made their choice, the PRS advisor is able to book or request an appointment with the selected service.