Hospital referrals and appointments

You can access the NHS e-Referral Service in your NHS App in two ways.

From an email link

Find the email sent from the NHS e-Referral Service. This will come from NHS Referrals.

Select the link provided in the email, this will launch the NHS App or take you to the NHS website.

Log in as usual, then the NHS e-Referral Service will open.

From the e-Referral Service page:

1. Find the referral appointment you'd like to book, then choose Select a clinic.
2. Find the clinic you'd like to attend the appointment at from the options available, then choose Select this clinic.
3. Find the appointment date and time that works best for you from the options available, then choose Select appointment.
4. Check the details of your appointment, then select Book appointment.

From the NHS App

From the NHS App or while logged in through the NHS website:

1. Go to either the homepage or Your health.
2. Select Upcoming and past appointments.
3. Select Hospital referrals and appointments.
4. Find the referral appointment that's ready to book and click on the card.
5. Find the clinic you'd like to attend the appointment at from the options available, then choose Select this clinic.
6. Find the appointment date and time that works best for you from the options available, then choose Select appointment.
7. Check the details of your appointment, then select Book appointment.

If you cannot attend an appointment and need to rebook it, you should change your appointment rather than cancel it. If you cancel an appointment you may not be able to change your mind, and depending on your healthcare provider you may be taken off the waiting list for care. If this happens and you then decide you want an appointment you’ll need a new referral from your healthcare provider.

To cancel your first appointment:

1. Go to either the homepage or Your health.
2. Select Upcoming and past appointments.
3. Select Hospital referrals and appointments.
4. From the list of appointments, find the appointment you want to cancel, then click on the card.
5. Then select Cancel appointment.
6. Select a reason for cancelling from the options given, then select Cancel appointment.

You can only manage your first referral appointment in your NHS App.

You cannot manage any further appointments for an existing referral. You will need to do this directly with the specialist you're being referred to.

If you have cancelled a referral and it’s still showing, you need to contact the healthcare provider that referred you.

If you have requested to change or permanently cancel an appointment this request may not automatically be accepted.

The appointment will show as pending while the request is reviewed by the relevant organisation or healthcare provider it’s booked with.

If the request to change or cancel the appointment is not accepted it will still show as booked in your confirmed appointments.

If the cancellation is accepted the appointment will show as cancelled in your confirmed appointments.

Some hospitals do not yet provide referral and appointment information within the NHS App.

If you have been contacted about an appointment that is not showing in the app, it is still scheduled by the hospital. You should still attend your upcoming appointment.

Some healthcare providers do not provide their waiting list data.

If you know you have a referral but it is not showing in the app, it might take a few weeks for this information to be updated in the app.

If your treatment date is unavailable, it means the app is currently unable to estimate this data. You are still on a waiting list.