Do I need to be referred by my General Practitioner?
We strongly support the view of the General Medical Council that all patients should be referred by their GP or another consultant. You should therefore approach your GP for referral letter. This to protect the interests of the patient. Your GP will know the specialists in their areas and will be in the best position to choose the one most appropriate to your problem. In addition, you will be able to tell the surgeon of relevant medical treatment and past medical histories so that these can be taken into account. Sometimes patients do not realise that a particular medical problem which they might have suffered fro in the past, could increase the risks involved in an operation.