Information for GPs and healthcare professionals

Useful contact details

• Admissions
• Bi-lingual Health Advocacy Service / Interpreting
• Comments, suggestions and complaints
• GP line
• Switchboard
• Non emergency patient transport
• Outpatient Appointments Centre
• Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
• Urgent suspected cancer referrals
• Wards

Admissions

For any enquires regarding admissions, GPs and patients should call the numbers below.

Bi-lingual Health Advocacy Service tel 020 7377 7280 

The Trust has its own bi-lingual Health Advocacy Service, which provides information, support, interpretation and advice to patients whose first language is not English. The service aims to ensure that all patients and their families can access the full range of services provided by the Trust and that they receive the highest quality of care.

Health advocates are available to interpret on the patient’s behalf when they speak to a doctor or other staff. It is advisable to telephone the Bi-lingual Health Advocacy Service prior to an appointment or admission to arrange help. Contact the Health Advocacy Coordinator on tel 020 7377 7280 or call the appropriate health advocate direct on the number below.

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Comments, Suggestions and Complaints

We are committed to providing a high-quality service for all our patients, and will do everything possible to make sure that your visit to our hospital is as comfortable as possible. We are constantly developing the services we provide for patients and visitors, and would welcome your input. If you’d like to make a comment, suggestion or complaint, please do one of the following:

• Speak to the staff at your clinic/department
• Contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on tel 020 7943 1335 or email PALS@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
• Read the Tell us leaflet and complete and return the form. The leaflet can be picked up from clinics and wards in the hospital.

  Download Complaints form.

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GP line tel 020 7377 7461

This number is for GPs only. GPs can call this number and be transferred to the extension number required or the on-call medical or surgical doctors.

Switchboard number tel 020 7377 7000

The main switchboard number for all the hospitals in the Trust is t 020 7377 7000. When you ring this number, a recorded message will ask you which hospital you wish to contact.

Non emergency patient transport

New assessment and booking system introduced – 1 March 2007

The Trust has introduced a new system for assessing and booking non-emergency patient transport (NEPT) to and/or from The Royal London, Barts and The London Chest hospitals and the Rheumatology Department of Mile End Hospital. The new system came into effect for patients requesting transport for appointments/admissions from 1 March 2007 onwards.

Under the new system:

• All patients who request non-emergency patient transport to and/or from our hospitals will need to be assessed for the service over the telephone by staff in the Barts and The London Travel Shop, a new centralised assessment and booking facility, run by trained transport assessment officers. 
• GPs and hospital clinicians are no longer be required to assess patients for transport and book it on their behalf. If a patient needs help calling the Travel Shop, GPs (and hospital clinicians) can make this call on their behalf, but the patient must be present in order to answer the assessment questions.

Click here for more information about the new assessment and booking system >>

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Outpatient Appointments Centre

Patients making enquiries regarding or wishing to cancel their outpatient appointment should call The Outpatients Appointments Centre or the Dental Appointments Office. GPs may also use these numbers for enquiries regarding partial or electronic booking.

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Patients Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) tel 020 7943 1335

The Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers on-the-spot advice for patients, their families and friends. The service is happy to help answer any questions patient’s questions about care in hospital, provide information and advice on health care and patients’ rights and point them to other local health or support organisations that may be able to help.  More information >>

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Urgent suspected cancer patients

There is a centralised system for urgent suspected cancer patients (two week wait referrals). The following fax number should be used for all suspected cancer referrals and all urgent referrals for all cancer groups fax 020 7601 7964.

Please remember that in order to meet the two week wait standard, urgent cancer referrals must be received by the Trust no later than 24-hours from the date the decision to refer is made. Please also use the North East London Cancer Network agreed proformas, as this will help to easily identify urgent cancer referrals, leading to a faster, more accurate and efficient service. These proformas include NICE referral guidance and details of who to contact for further clinical advice.

For further information please call the Lead Cancer Manager on tel 020 7601 8621. Click here for copies of the proformas.