Millions of outpatient appointments and treatments have been delayed in NHS hospitals. When patients contact the hospital, they are sometimes told to ask their GP for an ‘expedite letter’. This is frustrating for you and for us, and rarely results in your appointment being brought forward. Hospital secretaries have been instructed by their Trust not to do this.

If your gallbladder or arthritis pain is worse, if your mobility has reduced, or your tinnitus increased, this is not something a GP can measure. We take your word for it, and the hospital should too. Only the hospital can compare your needs with those of other patients on their waiting list.

If your wait for an appointment or treatment is at one of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s hospitals, and you need to report a change in your condition, please telephone your specialist’s ‘hub’ found by clicking here.

Spilsby Surgery has created two letters for you to use if you need to write to a hospital to inform it of a change in your symptoms. One is for patients waiting for a first appointment with a specialist, the second is for patients waiting for a follow-up appointment, treatment, or operation.

Please download and print a letter, completing your details and explaining the change in your symptoms. 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 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, North Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and Nottingham University Hospitals .

In the event of a change in a potentially life-threatening health condition – for example, a known cancer, or heart or lung symptoms – please contact Spilsby Surgery, 999 or 111 in the first instance.

NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) provides further information and support for patients waiting for an outpatient appointment. Click here for more information.