Referral Information for NHS Trusts

What is a referral?

GPs and other health professionals are often the first person you speak to when you have a health issue or you’re worried about symptoms. GPs and other health professionals at the practice can offer medical advice, provide diagnoses and prescribe medicines for lots of common conditions. We may think you need to see another healthcare professional for specialist tests, treatment or care. This is known as a referral.

Examples of referrals could include:

• Scans or tests for a diagnosis of a condition or health issue
• Wellbeing services, like smoking cessation or diabetes management
• Physiotherapy
• Minor surgery

You can also sometimes self-refer to further NHS support, like mental health talking therapies.

What can I do if I am waiting a long time to see a specialist?

As a GP surgery, we are not notified of any waiting times for clinics or provided with hospital hotline numbers therefore our secretaries frequently are unable to get any information quicker than you can.

If your follow-up appointment has been delayed please contact your consultant secretary for any updates.

If you are waiting for your first appointment with a consultant and have not heard for a long time, please contact the outpatient department/appointments team of the hospital you have been referred to in the first instance.

If you have been unable to contact outpatients or the appointments team, please contact PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service).

The Appointments Team on 01743 261000 ext 1044

Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS)

Email sath.pals@nhs.net
01743 261691 for
the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
01952 282888 for the
Princess Royal Hospital

Hereford Hospital

Referral Management Centre on (01432) 383100 select Option 1

Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS) 01432 372986 – Monday to Friday, 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm.

Worcester Hospital

Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS)

You can call on 0300 123 1732 or email: wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Shropshire Community Health Trust

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Tel: 01743 277689
Freephone: 0800 032 1107 Email: shropcom.customerservices@nhs.net

Mental Health and Substance Misuse Services (adults)

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Access Team Telephone: 0808 196 4501 Email:

access.shropshire@mpft.nhs.uk

Substance Misuse

Telephone: 01743 294700
Email:

srpinfo@wearewithyou.org.uk

PALS

FREEPHONE 08007832865.

Email

palsandexperience@mpft.nhs.uk

include your name, contact details and brief details of your concern.

The PALS team will be returning calls between 9.30am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

Children’s mental health services are provided by BeeU.

Emotional health and wellbeing service for people, up to the age of 25, living in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

https://camhs.mpft.nhs.uk/beeu

Bee U Access Team 0808 196 4501 option 1.

PALS team is same as adult mental health services