Your choices in the NHS

Did you know that in many cases you have the legal right to choose where you have your NHS treatment?

Find out more about NHS Right to Choose

Podiatry Self-Referral

Find out more about Podiatry Self-Referrals

Social Prescribing

A Social Prescriber, also called a Social Prescribing Link Worker, is a person who works alongside the clinical team in the GP surgery to help address non-medical needs. This will often start as a conversation to discuss what is important to you.

The social prescriber will discuss what support is available so that you have more control over your health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you.

Social prescribers work with a wide range of people including:
• Those with one or more long term-conditions
• Those who need support with their mental wellbeing
• Those who feel lonely or isolated
• Those with financial and housing issues
• Those who need practical support
• Those who want to improve their health
• Those who are looking for support and interest groups
• Those who need support with work, education and training
• Those who require a foodbank voucher
• Those who are carers or supporting others in some way.

How to refer:

You can ask to be referred to the Social Prescribing service by any member of the GP Surgery team, whether that be a receptionist, a nurse or a doctor. This can be requested in person, over the phone or by online triage. You will need to give a brief reason for the referral. You can find out more information in the Local Provider Information.

This is not a crisis or medical advice service. For out of hours mental health support, you can contact First response Team on 0800 923 9323 or Samaritans on 116 123 – both these services are available 24/7. In an emergency, please contact 999.

Please allow 4 weeks from the date of your GP appointment.

If after 4 weeks you have not been contacted with an appointment date, please contact Devon Referral Support Services (DRSS) on 01752 398993. The team will be happy to assist you.

Please allow only 2 weeks before contacting DRSS if your referral is a “2 week wait”(2WW) i.e. to eliminate the possibility of cancer.

You will need your NHS number to help the team locate your details.

Please call us if you need your NHS number. You will be asked to verify your identity by confirming your date of birth and address or other recorded details .

The surgery has no influence over appointment times or waiting lists and has no power to bring forward any appointment. Your GP will only be able to try to expedite your appointment if it is clinically necessary to do so.

It is the patient’s responsibility to enquire about an anticipated appointment. Your first call should always be to DRSS on 01752 398993. We are unable to chase appointments for you except in exceptional circumstances or if 4 weeks after you saw your GP, you have contacted DRSS but have been unable to establish any details concerning your appointment. We stress that our involvement will have no impact on any waiting times for your appointment.

Most likely, yes.

Please remember it can take up to 4 weeks for the referral to be converted to a confirmed appointment, visible on the hospital’s system (2 weeks for a “2WW” referral).

If you have not had any confirmation of appointment after 4 weeks, please call DRSS on 01752 398993 and remember to have your NHS number (above ) available. If at this point DRSS has no record of receiving the referral they will direct you to the surgery. Please call 01752 205555 and ask to speak to the Practice Secretary. She will investigate and liaise with DRSS to resolve any communication issues.

The GP would have made an electronic request which will be processed direct by the hospital.

You MUST book your own appointment by contacting the radiology department between Monday to Friday 9:00am and 4:30pm. Please allow at least 24 hours (excluding weekends) after your GP appointment before telephoning to book your appointment.

Please follow these instructions:

Call 01752 437188 at least 24hrs after your GP appointment to arrange your appointment.
Please report to the x-ray department 15 minutes prior to your appointment time
Written confirmation will not be sent
If you no longer wish to have an appointment please contact radiology and inform us
If you do not call within 2 weeks your referral will be returned to your GP

You will be contacted directly by post with an appointment.  If the appointment is unacceptable to you, please contact the booking clerk using the contact number on your letter. Otherwise, please confirm as instructed.

If you have not heard within 4 weeks, please contact the Radiology Department as follows:

MRI – 01752 439283 / 439282
Ultrasound (including US Guided injections) – 01752 439286 / 439287
Barium, SALPS, HSGs & Fluoroscopy (incl. Fluoro. Inj.) – 01752 439284 / 439285
CT – 01752 437185 / 437183 / 437182
Nuclear Medicine – 01752 792275