Wherever possible, you will have a choice about where and when you receive treatment if a doctor believes you need hospital treatment or specialist care elsewhere. This service is called NHS E-referral (previously known as Choose and Book).
There are various ways of booking the appointment:
- The doctor can book your appointment electronically for you
- You can take the appointment request letter away with you and book your appointment later
- In some cases you will need to telephone your chosen hospital directly to make your appointment
The doctor will explain the options to you.