/ Dear Sir/Madam,
Following your recent appointment your GP has decided to seek advice from a specialist. This may or may not lead to you requiring a hospital appointment in the future.
Next Steps:
Once the Devon Referral Support Services (DRSS) have received a copy of your referral on the Choose and Book system a member of the team will contact you to advise you on how to proceed with your care and treatment. If you need to be seen for an appointment or a test you will be able to arrange the date and time.
The staff at DRSSwill need your NHSNumberas quoted below to be able to take you through the options available to you for your treatment. They will also ask you to confirm your name, date of birthand addresswhere you live.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998 we are only able to discuss referrals with the patient, or parent/guardian for those under the age of 18 years. If you would like a carer or family member to book an appointment on your behalf we require your permission first.
You do not need to phone or contact DRSS unless you have a question or if you have not heard from the service within 5 working days from your GP appointment.
If you would like more information about DRSS and the booking process, please see the ‘Further Information’ sectionon the other side of this sheet. This includes information about your legal right to start your NHS consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral.
/ NHS Number:
*Textphone (Minicom) users: Please phone 18001 and then the number below.
Telephone Number: / 01752 398 993
*Call charges may vary, please check with your phone provider.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm*Monday mornings are very busy and queues can be long (at times longer than 15 minutes), you may prefer to call at another time.
We have left the space below blank for you to write your appointment details:
For any other general help or queries, or for large print, Braille or other language versions please ring 01752 39 87 58
Please do not use this number for booking your appointment
/ Further Information
What is DRSS (Devon Referral Support Services)?
Devon Referral Support Services (DRSS) is a local NHS service that enables patients to access specialist treatment as quickly and efficiently as possible. DRSS will explain what choices are available to help you choose the most appropriate service. DRSS was previously known as the Tamar Referral and Appointments Centre (TRAC).
NHS Constitution – Waiting Times
You have the legal right to start your NHS consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral, unless you choose to delaytreatment or there is a medical reason why you should wait longer. The clock starts with the initial phone call with DRSS to book your appointment. Further information is available on the NHS Choices web site:
Is choice offered for all conditions?
A choice of hospital is available for most medical conditions. However, not all hospitals treat every medical condition. You may need to see a specialist GP or have a test, in which case you will not be offered a choice of hospital.
If I need treatment after my first appointment, will I be treated by the same hospital?
Usually you will be treated by the same hospital team but not all hospitals have the same equipment and facilities available to them so you may need to go to the main hospital site for further treatment. If you need very specialised treatment you may have to go to a specialist unit.
What happens if I want to change my choice of healthcare provider?
If you change your mind about your choice of provider after you have made an appointment please contact DRSS who can advise you on your options.
What if I need to change, or no longer require, my appointment?
Your healthcare provider may have confirmed your appointment in writing and supplied a contact number in their letter. If you need to change or cancel your appointment please use these details. If you have not received a confirmation letter, please ring DRSSfor assistance.
Is there any help available with my travel arrangements for my appointment?
If your GP, or the person who referred you,thinks that you are eligible for non-emergency patient transport services (PTS) then please ask DRSS for details of who to contact when making your appointment. Patient transport services may not be available for all providers.
/ Feedback on your whole experience as a patient is important to us
From referral by your GP, booking your appointment through DRSS, through to the delivery of care at the clinic or hospital you attend. Please let us know about both positive and negative experiences so that we can improve the service.
- Visit and click on “Tell people what happened”.
- Phone 0800 122 3135 during working hours and tell your story to someone at Patient Opinion, who will put it on the web for you.
Patient Advice and ComplaintsTeam (for Devon and East Cornwall patients)
If, at any point, you need help, support or advice on the NHS please contact the PALs and Complaints teams. They can be used to advise the best way forward for:
- Information and advice about the NHS and the services provided
- Help with health costs, individual funding processes or referral problems
- Concerns and complaints when you don’t know where to start