How to get the best from Choose and Book - advice for GPs

• Refer via the Choose and Book system and not on paper wherever possible, to ensure your referral is dealt with swiftly.

• The only services not available on Choose and Book at Barts and The London are the national exclusions including TB, ante-natal and infection and immunity. In these instances you should send your paper referral to:
  
  Barts and The London Central Appointments Office
  1st Floor, 9 Prescot Street  
  London
  E1 8PR
  
  As a teaching hospital, our services are more specialised than others. Therefore, before referring to a ‘general service’, please look to see if there is a more appropriate specialised service for that patient’s particular condition. If you are unable to locate the service you require on Choose and Book, please call the Appointments Office on 020 7767 3200 for advice. 
  

• Address referrals to ‘Dear doctor/colleague’ and not to a specific consultant. We will make sure the patient is seen by the most appropriate consultant.

• Attach the referral to Choose and Book within 48 hours - this will ensure that when the patient is seen, the consultant already has the referral letter and details of the patient. Delays in attaching the letter can result in an unexpected delay in the clinic for the patient.

Download Choose and Book service list - December 2011 

Tips on using the Choose and Book system

1. Search for and select your patient, then:
2. Click on the refer / advice button on the service search page You are now at the Search screen.
3. Select Request Type Advice from the Request Type combo box.
4. Use the service search options to search for clinically appropriate services (see the section on service searching for more details).
5. Click on either the “Search All” buttons to return the services that meet the criteria used Those services meeting your selection criteria and that have agreed to respond to Advice and Guidance requests are displayed (i.e.. the list will not show those services that have not agreed to respond to Advice and Guidance requests).
6. Select a single service by clicking the radio button in front of that service
7. Click the Request button at the bottom of the Service Results screen.
8. Type your question to the advisor in the yellow box. This is the only mandatory entry
9. Press the Submit button

Easier access for GPs with queries regarding Choose and Book

To ensure your call is answered as quickly as possible, dial 020 7767 3200, press option 1 to hear the prompts in English and then press option 4 to be connected to the Appointments Office. By choosing these options, your call will be answered in priority to other calls.

The line is available Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm. 

For further information about Choose and Book at Barts and The London, please email c&b.issues@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk or peter.nicholson@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

Telephone assistance for GPs is available through the Trust’s Central Appointments team on 020 7767 3200 and select option “3”.