Separate sent, received and accepted
Ask the referring practice which service received the request and how you will hear about its decision. Keep the referral date and any booking instructions. If the destination changes, ask why and obtain the new contact details.
A service may need further information or assess which clinic is appropriate. Keep your contact details current and follow the service’s instructions for responding to a booking invitation.
Understand the booking route
In England, specialist appointments may be arranged through the NHS e-Referral Service by the GP, online using referral details or by telephone. The NHS describes an 18-week right for non-urgent consultant-led treatment with exceptions; this is not a promise that every appointment or every service takes exactly that long.
If a waiting-time figure is quoted, ask what it measures: first assessment, investigation, treatment start or the complete pathway. These are different milestones.
While you wait
Ask the referring clinician what support is appropriate meanwhile and what change should prompt a further assessment. Tell the relevant service if your circumstances or ability to attend change. An administrative waiting-list update is different from advice about a new clinical concern.
Keep a simple record of the date, organisation contacted and next action agreed. That makes a follow-up call more useful than starting the story again.
If you consider a private appointment
Before booking, establish what the appointment would add and who would act on its findings. Our NHS/private handover guide explains why a private report does not automatically transfer prescribing or follow-up responsibility.
The goal is a clear care plan. Confirm the referral position with the NHS service and the full scope of any private quote so you understand which steps belong to each route.
Five questions to take with you
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Your questions, answered
Who should I call when I have heard nothing after a referral?
Start with the stage you can confirm. Ask the referring practice whether the request was sent and which service received it. Once the destination and reference are known, use that service’s booking instructions for a progress enquiry. Record what remains outstanding and when the team suggests you should follow up.
Does the 18-week right mean my appointment will happen within 18 weeks?
England’s right concerns non-urgent consultant-led treatment and has exceptions; it is not a universal appointment promise for every NHS service. Ask which pathway applies and what milestone is being measured. A first appointment, diagnostic test and treatment start can each have different dates within the same care journey.
Should I cancel my NHS referral if I book a private consultation?
Clarify both pathways before changing an existing arrangement. Ask what the private consultation would add, who will act on its findings and whether any NHS referral remains relevant. A private report does not automatically transfer tests, prescribing or follow-up to the NHS. Confirm changes with the teams responsible for each appointment.
Sources & further reading
Source material checked 20 October 2026. Follow the original publication to check current arrangements. The source labels describe the publisher; they are not a quality rating.
- NHS: referrals for specialist care ↗NHS or public authoritynhs.uk
- Department of Health: NHS Choice Framework for England ↗NHS or public authoritygov.uk