See the Cancer section for changes to the cancer referral pathways
This includes important information about changes to referral pathways, managing appointments, and using advice and guidance – please review before any referrals.
Temporary changes to services at our acute hospitals
With the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases we have seen a massive increase in demand in our
acute hospitals, where bed occupancy from patients with the virus is significantly higher
than during the first wave.
This has meant our acute hospitals have been forced to think very carefully about what
activity they need to temporarily step down, to ensure they are able to provide urgent
care and care for the high numbers of Covid-19 patients. Much of their activity which is
not deemed essential or clinically urgent (e.g. planned care such as routine operations)
is currently postponed.
The documents below outline changes to referrals. These have been reviewed and
updated for all of our acute hospitals. The latest updates and key messages to practices
are in red.
NB The situation is being reviewed daily, with the aim of restarting activities currently
stood down as soon as possible.
GSTT
- GSTT – Update on referrals and accessing the Trust (Updated 6th January 2020)
- GST Information for patients needing to access services
- Changes to Community Services at Guy’s and St Thomas (22 July update) please use in conjunction with general GSTT update above
- Rapid Diagnostic Clinic (RDC) at GSTT
All GSTT 2ww clinics (including rapid diagnostic clinic) are still running but may be subject to additional triage before the patient is seen. Please refer as normal.
Tier 4 message from GSTT Community Services
Our teams in the GSTT Integrated Local Services directorate are working hard to provide care and support for our patients in South East London over the Christmas and new year period. We are adapting to current capacity pressures across the system, in the context of Tier 4 requirements and the need to work collaboratively with our colleagues in primary, secondary, social and voluntary care. We are prioritising our delivery of services based on clinical need in relation to available staffing capacity.
We ask that colleagues in primary care continue to refer to our services in the usual manner and provide as much information as much possible to enable us to prioritise accordingly.
Kings
- KCH – Update on referrals and accessing the Trust (Updated 6th January 2020)
Lewisham and Greenwich
- LGT – Update on referrals (Updated 6th January 2020)
LGT has provided a briefing to GPs regarding the outpatient letters backlog
Consultant connect
Download Consultant Connect to your phone for immediate specialist advice, use this service before making any new referral for hospital care.
| Consultant connect will be expanding (available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm). Depending on your area, Consultant Connect lines are available for GPs in South East London Elderly Care – Nursing and Residential Homes Lambeth, Southwark Elderly Care (24/7 line) Lambeth, Southwark Foot Health Acute Lambeth, Southwark Foot Health Community Lambeth, Southwark Gastroenterology Lambeth, Southwark Hepatology Lambeth, Southwark Haematology Lambeth, Southwark Occupational Therapy & Hand Therapy Lambeth, Southwark Physiotherapy Lambeth, Southwark Adult Dermatology via PhotoSAF Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham Adult Dermatology via PhotoSAF Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham Gynaecology Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley Neurology Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley Rheumatology Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley Cardiology Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley & Bexley Acute Medicine (24/7 Line) All 6 SEL CCGs Adult Allergy All 6 SEL CCGs Cancer confirmed diagnosis All 6 SEL CCGs Cancer Genetics All 6 SEL CCGs Cardiac Surgery All 6 SEL CCGs Diabetes & Endocrinology All 6 SEL CCGs ENT All 6 SEL CCGs General Genetics All 6 SEL CCGs HIV (24/7 Line) All 6 SEL CCGs Neurofibromatosis All 6 SEL CCGs Ophthalmology All 6 SEL CCGs Pain Management All 6 SEL CCGs Palliative Care All 6 SEL CCGs Post ICU Care All 6 SEL CCGs Renal Medicine All 6 SEL CCGs Respiratory Medicine All 6 SEL CCGs Speech and Language Therapy All 6 SEL CCGs Urology All 6 SEL CCGs Vascular Surgery All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatrics at Evelina Paediatric ENT Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham Paediatric Allergy All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Bladder All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Cardiac Surgery All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Cardiology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Cleft All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Endocrine & Diabetes All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Gastroenterology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric General Surgery All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Haematology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric IMMID All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Metabolic All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Neurology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Ophthalmology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Orthopaedic All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Palliative care All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Plastic Surgery All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Renal All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Respiratory All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Rheumatology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Sleep All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Spinal All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatric Urology All 6 SEL CCGs Paediatrics Evelina CARS All 6 SEL CCGs |