Referring to our services

We are committed to making the referral process easy, efficient and reliable for both you as a referrer and for your patients. 

Our aim is to ensure that all patients waiting for an outpatient appointment, diagnostic test, elective or planned admission are managed in line with National Waiting List Guidance, the NHS Constitution (opens in a new window) and the NHS Operating Framework. This includes patients with a suspected cancer diagnosis.

  1. e-Referral (e-RS) information
  2. Suspected cancer referrals

Referring to our services

Referral guidelines and forms

We are working to continue to improve and increase the amount of guidance available on this page to support optimised referrals. You'll find referral forms and/or guidance for the following services below. The list below shows our Outpatient services. We will add guidance for each one:

  • Allergy
  • Audiology
  • Cardiology
  • Chemical Pathology 
  • Chronic Fatigue
  • COPE - Centre of Pain Education
  • COTE - Care of the Elderly
  • Dermatology
  • Diabetic Medicine
  • Ear, Nose and Throat
  • Endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • General Surgery
  • Haematology
  • Immunology
  • Gynaecology
  • Maxillo Facial 
  • Nephrology (Renal)
  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Oral Surgery
  • Orthotics
  • Paediatrics (Children and Young People)
  • Pain 
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Respiratory
  • Rheumatology
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Stroke (TIA)
  • Transplantation Surgery
  • Trauma and Orthopaedics
  • Urology
  • Vascular

Allergy 

 

Cardiology

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

For more information, please see chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Centre of Pain Education

For information about referring to the Centre of Pain Education (COPE) please see our leaflet called Information for referrers [pdf] 348KB

 

COVID-19

 

Dermatology

GP Guidance for Dermatology Advice and Guidance - v0.1 Derm A&G Guidance for GPs.docx

South West London ICS Dermatology Clinical Guidelines: 

 

Gynaecology

 

Maternity

 

Neurology

 

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

 

Paediatrics

 

Pain

 

Renal - St Helier Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) guidelines

In 2014 NICE updated their clinical guideline on the identification and management of Chronic Kidney Disease. This local guideline reflects these national changes, and also provides concise advice on key CKD management issues relevant to primary care.

St Helier Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) guidelines (Sept 2015) [pdf] 701KB

Referral to allergy clinic (adult guidelines)[pdf] 218KB

 

Rheumatology

 

British Society of Rheumatology Referral Guidelines for GPs
The BSR have published updated Referral guidelines for GPs. These guidelines list the conditions for which GPs can refer to Rheumatology and the conditions which should not be referred to Rheumatology as they can be managed in primary care or should be referred to alternative specialties. https://www.rheumatology.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Policy/Adult-rheumatology-referral-guidance.pdf?ver=2021-10-05-142645-127

 

Information regarding Pain and Fibromyalgia Referrals
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain can be diagnosed and managed in primary care. Most patients can be referred directly to Pain management clinics and do not need to be referred to Rheumatology. South West London CCG Rheumatology Network have devised a Widespread Chronic Pain Triage  Widespread Pain Pathway [pdf] 208KB  and Diagnosis tool for GPs ( New Clinical Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria [pdf] 219KB ) The Royal College of Physicians have produced extensive guidance to help GPs diagnose and manage Fibromyalgia in primary care. https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/guidelines-policy/diagnosis-fibromyalgia-syndrome

 

Early Inflammatory Arthritis clinic
GPs are advised to submit a completed "Early Inflammatory Arthritis (EIA) referral form" along with referral letter when referring patients with for Suspected Early Inflammatory Arthritis.  Rheumatology Referral Form for Suspected Early Inflammatory Arthritis [docx] 19KB. This form should be completed and submitted along with referral letter for all referrals for "suspected early inflammatory arthritis".  Please see ESTH Rheumatology Directory of Service on ERS.

 

Suspected Giant Cell Arteritis
GPs should refer these patients urgently (same-day) by calling the Rheumatology on-call Consultant or Registrar via telephone during working hours 0900-16:45 Monday- Friday (via hospital switchboard 0208 296 2000 bleep 490). Outside these hours, patients should be referred to the Medical Registrar on-call via hospital switchboard (Telephone no. 0208 296 2000)  GCA pathway[pdf] 146KB

Patients with visual symptoms should be referred same day to the Urgent Eye Casualty Acute Eye clinic at St Helier Hospital (Telephone no. 0208 296 3817) during Monday to Friday 08:30-16:30. Outside these hours the on-call ophthalmology service for South West Thames is based at St George’s Hospital and operates after 5pm weekdays, at weekends and on bank holidays. The on-call Ophthalmology team should be contacted via St. Georges Hospital switchboard number 020 8672 1255.

 

TIA - Stroke

Referrals for Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) patients should follow the TIA pathways for each site.
 
Please use the appropriate referral form (see below) and email it to stroke-sth@nhs.net (St Helier) or est-tr.epsomstroke@nhs.net (Epsom). Our fax machines are no longer in use. Do not send referrals by post in order to ensure patients are seen promptly. 
 
At St Helier, the Stroke team can be contacted for advice about TIA referrals on 07791 123 499 (Monday - Thursday, 8am - 4pm and Friday, 8am - 12noon). At Epsom, please call 01372 735379 or alternatively bleep 971 to discuss with the stroke nurse.
 
It is important that patients are referred in a timely manner ?to minimise the risk of stroke. 

 

Urology 

Patients to submit their IPSS questionnaire and bladder diary to sthegh.urology@nhs.net (Urology POD).

For edits to this page please contact Claire Dibble, Senior Planned Care Transformation Lead, or Laura Kirtley, Planned Care Transformation Lead

claire.dibble@nhs.net   laura.kirtley@nhs.net

 

Get connected

  • Like us on Facebook 
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on LinkedIn 
  • Reviews on NHS Choices
  • Watch our videos

 

  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter 
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Review on NHS Choices
  • Watch our videos

NHS image placement

Healthy Workplace Achievement Award 2016 NHS Choices