Can I refer myself to hospital in the UK?
Short answer is .. no, not in the UK .. for non-emergency or urgent illnesses. In the NHS, for most conditions, your GP is your first point of contact. In this way they are gatekeeper of the NHS.
Your GP will decide whether you need to see a hospital consultant (specialist) or not. Many conditions are managed and treated by your GP without the need for you to see a specialist.
Some other health professionals can also refer
They include physiotherapists, physicians associates (PAs), advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) and nurse practitioners.
Most GPs will refer less than 5% of the patients they see every day. So for a typical busy medium-sized practice – where there are a minimum of 200-ish face-to-face or virtual contacts per day (yes, alot!) – about 10 will be referred to a hospital.
What about illnesses that need emergency or urgent care?
Then, yes, you can refer yourself (and go) to a linked hospital-based ‘walk-in centre, urgent care/treatment centre (UCC/UTC) or minor illness/injury unit (MIU)’. These are usually open 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. Google your local hospital to see if they have one.
Other countries
Other countries have different systems and patients can refer themselves to hospital consultants. It is complicated, and there are pros and cons to the UK’s system.
Remember
Many conditions get better either with simple treatment, or of their own accord, and do not need to be sent to a specialist.
Summary
We have discussed ‘can I refer myself to hospital in the UK?’ You cannot, usually, sorry. You need to go via your GP, unless you need emergency or urgent care. Then you can go to a linked hospital-based walk-in centre, urgent care/treatment centre (UCC/UTC) or minor illness/injury unit (MIU).
[“Yes, having different names for the same thing is confusing, sorry”. CKDEx Ed]
Other resource
Can I refer myself to a hospital consultant in the UK?
Last Reviewed on 4 July 2024