A new leaflet has been published to help patients answer common questions when they are referred to a hospital consultant.

The leaflet, which is available in all GP practices across Cheshire and Merseyside, has been produced by NHS England, the British Medical Association (BMA) and the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP). It describes what patients can expect if their GP refers them to see a consultant, at a hospital or a healthcare centre.

The aim is to improve communication between hospitals and GPs and reduce occasions when patients are sent back to their GP unnecessarily following a hospital appointment. The leaflet also provides a helpful checklist for patients to use before they leave hospital.

Glenn Coleman, Head of Primary Care at NHS England (Cheshire and Merseyside), said: “This leaflet will be invaluable to patients when they are referred to hospital. Patients don’t always think about the information they need or questions they want to ask at the time of referral, so we hope that having this leaflet to hand will prompt them to think about this before their appointment and as a result ensure our patients are better prepared for their consultations and have an improved experience.”

Copies of the leaflet are available in GP practices and can also be downloaded here.