Requesting to Expedite Hospital Appointments
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to widespread delays and cancellations of outpatient appointments across the NHS.
Patients often contact hospitals directly to ask when they might be seen or to report that their symptoms have worsened. In many cases, they are advised to ask their GP for an “expedite letter.”
We understand this can be frustrating for you and for us as a practice, especially as these requests rarely result in appointments being brought forward.
It’s also important to understand that GPs are not in a position to assess the urgency of your case in comparison to others on the hospital’s waiting list. We rely on your account of symptom changes—and the hospital should do the same. It is the responsibility of the hospital to review and prioritise patients fairly across their lists.
What you can do:
To help you communicate changes in your condition directly to the hospital, Canon Street Medical Centre has created two letter templates:
- Template 1 – for patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment with a specialist
[Download Template 1 – First Appointment Request] - Template 2 – for those awaiting a follow-up appointment, treatment, or procedure
[Download Template 2 – Follow-Up Request]
You can download and complete the appropriate letter, filling in your details and describing how your symptoms have changed. The documents are in Word format, and only the highlighted sections are editable.
Once completed, please send your letter to:
- Outpatients Department – for initial appointments
- Your consultant’s secretary – for follow-up care
Hospital Contact Information:
- [Leicester Royal Infirmary – Click here]
- [Leicester General Hospital – Click here]
- [Glenfield Hospital – Click here]
Urgent Medical Concerns
If you are experiencing symptoms that could indicate a serious or life-threatening condition (e.g. suspected cancer, heart issues, or breathing problems), please contact Canon Street Medical Centre without delay, or call 111 or 999 as appropriate.