Referrals

Introduction

At West Meads Surgery, referrals may take up to 7 working days to be processed from the date they are discussed with your GP or clinician. Please ensure we have your current email address and mobile number on file.

You might receive an email or text message with information about your referral. If you use the NHS App, you may also receive notifications regarding your referral status.

My Planned Care

The "My Planned Care" NHS website is a valuable resource designed to support patients awaiting elective care. It provides up-to-date information and guidance about waiting times, helping patients to better understand and manage their care journey. 

The website offers practical advice on how to stay healthy while waiting for treatment and what to expect during the process. By offering transparency and support, "My Planned Care" aims to empower patients with the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

My Planned Care NHS.

Secondary Care Referrals (hospital)

Most referrals will be sent via the Electronic Referral System (E-RS) – see below for some exceptions to this.

If your referral is sent via this route we will usually create a short list of 5 services for you to choose from. Details on how to do this will be sent to you via email or letter and there are plans for it to be managed through the NHS app in the future.  

Once the referral has been sent through the electronic referral system (E-RS), it will be dealt with by the appointments team at the service you have chosen. Relevant contact details should be given when you make your selection. 

Our local outpatient booking numbers are:

  • University Hospitals Sussex: 01273 446067 – covering St Richard’s, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals 
  • Portsmouth University Hospital: 02392 681700

Radiology Referrals

The clinician will usually inform you when they are arranging radiological investigations. Referrals are usually sent via the online system to either St Richard’s or Bognor War Memorial Hospital and they will contact you directly. 

  • St Richard’s Hospital Radiology: 01243 831781
  • Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital Radiology: 01243 623673

Musculoskeletal/ Orthopaedic/Pain Clinic/Physiotherapy Referrals

These referrals are sent direct to Sussex MSK Health.  Your referral will be triaged by a clinician prior to being added to the waiting list.  

The contact details are Sussex MSK Health Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital: 01243 623548

You can also self refer here.

Cancer Referrals

Referrals for suspected cancer are sent within 1 working day of the referral being agreed between you and your GP. These are sent to a designated department and you should be seen within a few weeks. We send out letters and texts to patients to inform them that their referral has been sent along with the relevant contact details.

If you do not hear from the hospital within 2 weeks of the referral being sent please contact the numbers below and if there are any problems with the referral being received please contact the practice.

  • University Hospitals Sussex: 01273 446067 – covering St Richard’s, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals 
  • Portsmouth University Hospital: 02392 681700

Any other referrals

There are many other referrals that do not go via the Referral Support Service, these are usually sent directly to the department. E.g. Dietitians, falls service, orthotics, podiatry, weight management etc.

It is best to wait to hear directly from the service that you have been referred to.

Private Referrals

We are able to refer you for private consultations.

You will need to make your own investigations as to where you would like to be seen. The local private hospitals are Nuffield Chichester, Goring Hall, Spire Portsmouth and St Richards have a private unit called the Chichester Suite.

Once you have decided who you want to see, please let the secretary know so that the referral can be forwarded to the relevant hospital.

Facebook