Your GP might not send you straight to a specialist

Most people have never heard of Advice and Guidance. But as of April, it is not part of every GP's core contract in England

Here is how it works

• Instead of your GP referring you directly to a hospital consultant, they now have to message a specialist first.
• The specialist reviews your case and advises your GP on what to do next. No waiting list number generated.
• No outpatient appointment automatically booked.
• Your GP manages you based on that advice. It can generally work well.

Quicker specialist input, fewer unnecessary hospital trips, and for straightforward cases it may mean faster answers.

But you need to know it exisits. And you need to know when to ask questions.

Published: Apr 10, 2026