24 October 2011

A new ‘How to contact us’ page has been developed on the ‘For clinicians’ section of the Trust website.

The page lists the full range of contact options available for GPs and other clinicians considering referring patients to Barts and The London NHS Trust, but who require advice – both urgent and non-urgent – before doing so. 

In response to feedback from GPs, all Barts and The London specialties, including Gynaecology, Gastroenterology, Respiratory and Pain Services, are setting up non-urgent advice and guidance nhs.net email addresses (or in some cases telephone numbers) for use by GPs and other referrers. The majority of these are already in place and can be used; the remainder will be available shortly.

These aim to give referrers improved access to specialty clinical advice and communication with consultants.  Services will respond to queries within five working days. Please ensure that patient-identifiable information is only used if you are also using an nhs.net account; otherwise please use NHS or hospital numbers.

The full range of contact options on the How to contact us page is as follows:

• Urgent clinical advice
• Urgent cancer referrals
• Non-urgent advice and guidance
• Outpatient clinic appointment bookings and cancellations
• Confirming planned admissions
• Appointment Issues Resolution Service (AIRS)
• Pathology results
• Feedback from GPs
• Bi-lingual Health Advocacy Service / interpreting
• Non-emergency patient transport
• Patient Advice and Liaison Service
• Comments suggestions and complaints from patients
• Ward telephone numbers

Work is in progress to develop a ‘How to refer to us’ page, outlining the referral routes for GPs and clinicians who wish to refer a patient to one of the Trust’s services. Current advice on referring via Choose and Book is available at www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/for-clinicians/how-to-get-the-best-from-choose-and-book-advice-for-gps/

To access the new ‘How to contact us’ page, please go to www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/for-clinicians/how-to-contact-us