Where can I get help with NHS waiting times?

Start with your GP practice, the hospital’s patient advice service, or NHS 111 for urgent guidance. You can also contact your local Integrated Care Board or Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for support.

Contact the hospital department or booking team first, then your GP if the delay is affecting your care. If you need help resolving the issue, PALS can assist.

Yes. Your GP can review your symptoms, update your referral if needed, and advise on alternatives or urgent treatment if your condition changes.

PALS stands for Patient Advice and Liaison Service. It can explain delays, help chase appointments, and support you if you are having trouble getting information from the NHS.

NHS 111 can advise you on the right place to get care and tell you what to do if your symptoms worsen. It does not usually manage routine waiting lists, but it can guide urgent next steps.

Your referral or booking letter may include an estimated wait, and the hospital’s booking team can sometimes give an update. Some NHS services also provide waiting time information online.

Yes, in some cases you can ask your GP about alternative hospitals or services with shorter waits. Availability depends on your condition, local service access, and clinical suitability.

Contact your GP, the hospital team, or NHS 111 as soon as possible if your symptoms worsen. If it is an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E.

You can raise the issue with the NHS provider first, then contact PALS if needed. If it remains unresolved, you can use the NHS complaints process through the service involved.

Sometimes you can choose another provider if it offers the service and has capacity. Ask your GP or the referral team whether this is possible for your treatment.

Contact your GP, your local NHS mental health team, or NHS 111 if you need urgent support. If you are in crisis, seek immediate help through emergency services or crisis lines.

The hospital booking office, referral management service, or your GP practice can tell you whether your referral has been received and processed.

PALS cannot usually move you ahead of others, but it can help identify problems, check delays, and make sure your case is being handled correctly.

Yes. The NHS website and some hospital trust websites provide guidance and service information. You can also check local hospital pages for specialty-specific waiting times.

Contact your GP practice first to confirm that the referral was sent. If it was sent, the hospital booking team can tell you whether it has been received and what the next step is.

Possibly. If your symptoms are getting worse, tell your GP or the hospital team promptly so they can assess whether you need to be reviewed sooner.

Carers can contact the GP practice, PALS, or the hospital’s patient support team for updates and advice. They can also ask for help understanding appointment letters and next steps.

Tell the NHS service as soon as possible if you need transport, interpreters, or accessibility adjustments. Your GP or hospital team can help arrange appropriate support.

Local councils may help with social care or support needs that arise while you are waiting for treatment, but they do not manage NHS waiting lists. For the waiting list itself, contact the NHS service, PALS, or your GP.

Speak to the department handling the test, your GP, or PALS if the wait is affecting your health or the information you have received is unclear. They can help check progress and advise on next steps.