16/10/2025
📅Understanding Hospital Waiting Lists & Expedite Requests 📅
At Beechwood Surgery, we know how concerning it can be to wait for a hospital appointment. We frequently receive requests for "expedite letters" to try and speed up appointments, so we want to clarify how these work and what our role is.
What is an Expedite Letter?🤔
An expedite letter from your GP is a request to the hospital to review your referral sooner. However, we can only issue these if there has been a significant, new clinical change in your condition since your initial referral was made, which suggests an increased urgency. It is not a general request to bypass the waiting list. If you believe your condition has changed significantly, please contact the surgery to discuss this with us.
🤔Can Your GP Influence Hospital Waiting Lists?
Once your referral has been sent to the hospital, you are placed on their waiting list. As GPs, we unfortunately have no control or influence over hospital waiting times, appointment scheduling, or the order in which patients are seen. These decisions are made by the hospital based on their capacity and clinical prioritisation for their service.
👉What to Do if Your Symptoms Worsen?
If your symptoms worsen significantly while you are waiting for a hospital appointment, the most appropriate and effective course of action is to contact the specialist's secretary or the relevant hospital department directly.
They are best placed to assess your current condition within their own service and advise on the next steps or potential re-prioritisation.
We understand this can be a frustrating time, and we are here to support your primary care needs.
