Hospital 'Expedite' Letter

Last Updated: Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Sometimes patients are told by a specialist’s secretary to get a letter from their GP so that their appointment can be brought forward, however, this advice is inappropriate.

Hospitals are obliged to respond to any queries you might have about your care, in very much the same way that we as a GP surgery respond to patients with queries about the care provided by ourselves.

We do not ultimately have control over a hospital appointments schedule and any information you pass on to us would simply be passed over to your specialist. Only the hospital can compare your needs with those of other patients on their waiting list and they will action your request accordingly.

If you are experiencing worsening of your symptoms, we advise you to contact your specialist’s secretary directly so they can assess your condition and make the necessary arrangements to expedite your appointment, if appropriate. Please do not contact your GP surgery for these contact details. You should ring the relevant hospital and ask for the appropriate consultant’s secretary. They will put you through. If you have difficulty in accessing your specialist, we advise you to contact the hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for assistance.