Yes – an online referral can get you specialist, medical help, faster. So long as a private hospital offers the service you need, they will accept a referral from an online provider like Hola Health.
What is a GP Referral?
It is a formal letter written by your General Practitioner (GP) that helps connect you to specialist care.
When you visit your GP with a health concern, they will assess your symptoms, review your medical history, and if needed, refer you to a specialist. Once here, you can undergo tests and discuss next steps.
Referrals could be for MRI scans, wellbeing services, or expert advice. Getting an online GP referral is the first step you can take towards getting private medical care.
With Hola, you can get a referral letter today, from a fully-certified GP, without leaving your house. Speak to a GP today.
How toBook a Doctor’s Appointment Online
Make a request: Choose your appointment type and provide your payment details. We accept debit or credit cards and offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Our open hours are every day from 8 am–6 pm.
Your consultation: Talk to a fully NHS-trained & GMC-registered GP online, usually in minutes. It’s over a video call. No downloads or app installations required.
Receiving your medical letter: If the doctor feels you would benefit from seeing a specialist, they can issue a referral letter to you.
Referral letters are based on the information you provide during your consultation, along with the doctor’s medical judgment. If successful, a specialist referral will be securely emailed to you.
You can use this letter to book appointments with private healthcare providers or share it with your NHS GP or practice – depending on your chosen care pathway.
What Specialists Can we Refer you to?
A specialist referral letter connects you with the right kind of expert. So whether you have a type of specialist in mind or require guidance on who to see, a specialist referral letter ensures that you receive timely care, tailored to your health requirements.
Need to see a specialist now?
Get fast access to the right medical professional, with a referral from one of Hola Health’s GMC-registered GPs. A specialist is a senior doctor with advanced training in a specific field. They could be a cardiologist, dermatologist, a diabetes specialist, or something completely different. If you need expert help with a specific problem, a specialist referral can help you get it.
Looking for a radiology referral?
Skip the long wait and get a radiology referral letter from one of our GMC-registered GPs. Whatever private imaging you need, a radiology referral letter acts as a recommendation or a formal medical request. Radiology helps diagnose bone issues, chest issues, abdominal or pelvic-related problems, brain or spinal conditions and more. You need a GP letter to book a scan with private facilities.
<h2>What to Look for From a Private Health Provider</h2>
Once you have your referral, it’s time to choose your hospital and your consultant. Here’s what to consider:
Location: Look for your nearest hospital.
Facilities and services: Do they offer the right services? Do they have private rooms?
Safety record: This can be found on the Care Quality Commission website and will tell you how reliable a hospital is.
Infection rates and MRSA levels: You can find out what a hospital’s infection rates are and compare these to your local NHS and other private hospitals. You can usually find this information on the hospital’s website.
Return to theatre rates: This is an indication of how many patients have to go back into surgery because of complications arising after their initial operation.
Ratings and reviews: What do patients have to say? Find out from other people whether or not a private hospital provides good, quality care.
The Benefits of Going Private and How a Referral From us Can Help
Going private can be quicker than the NHS
The NHS is still dealing with the backlog caused by Covid19. With demand for treatment outpacing availability, even before the pandemic started, it’s no surprise that wait times are now even longer. Although the NHS pledges a maximum wait time of 18 weeks (or 17 weeks in some areas) – from referral to start of treatment – some patients are waiting longer. With private healthcare, there’s no long wait.
Choice of consultant
Picking the right consultant for you is a hugely important decision, and with private healthcare, you have more freedom to find one. Some private hospitals have consultant profiles, which can tell you about their speciality, qualifications and experience. Picking someone you trust is essential to having a positive healthcare journey.
What private hospitals do better
There are so many things private care can give you that the NHS can’t. Something important to a lot of patients is personalised care. A private hospital will always have more capacity to provide patients with privacy and comfort. With a single room and flexible visiting hours, private healthcare can feel less overwhelming.
Financing private healthcare
The cost for quicker treatment, flexibility, expertise and personalised care is always going to be higher. So whether you have insurance or are self-funded, payment is an important thing to consider when choosing a healthcare option.
Here are some rough costs from one private hospital:
Hip replacement: £14,908
Knee replacement surgery: £15,400
Cataract surgery (per eye): £3,081
Knee arthroscopy procedure: £4,896
Colonoscopy: £2,668
Gastroscopy: £2,294
Gallbladder removal surgery: £7,800
Laparoscopy: £4,298
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) repair surgery: £8,366
Hysterectomy: £9,633
Get an Online GP ReferralToday
Hola Health provides simple, straightforward healthcare that can help you get an online GP referral quickly. To see what else Hola Health can help you with, like online sick notes, see our full list of services here.
