Due to the COVID19 Pandemic millions of outpatient appointments have been cancelled and delayed in the NHS.

When patients contact local hospitals to find out when they might be seen or if their symptoms and condition has worsened, they are often asked to contact their GP and request an “expedite letter”. This is frustrating for you and the surgery as it rarely results in appointments being brought forward.

Furthermore, it is very difficult for a GP to measure to what extent your condition has worsened. We take your word for this, and the hospital should do the same. When making decisions about who to prioritise, it is only possible for the hospital to compare your condition and needs against all the other patients on their waiting list.

Eleanor Cross Healthcare has created two letters for you to use if you want to inform the hospital of a change in your symptoms. One is for patients waiting for a first appointment with a specialist. The second letter is for people waiting for a follow up appointment; treatment or an operation.

Please download the template letter, completing your details and explaining the change in your symptoms. The letters are in Word format and only the areas highlighted can be edited.

• First Outpatient Expedite Letter
• Outpatient Follow Up Expedite Letter

You should post your letter to either Outpatient Appointments (for first appointments) or your Consultant’s Secretary (for follow up care). Please click on these links for the addresses of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

In the event of a change in a potentially life-threatening condition e.g., a known cancer, or heart and lung symptoms please contact 999, NHS 111 or Eleanor Cross Healthcare in the first instance.

Please also see the Referred Privately Leaflet for more information.