This section is dedicated to GPs, practice managers, other healthcare professionals and commissioners. We want to ensure this section is helpful to you – if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see here, please let us know by emailing sue.daniels@dvh.nhs.uk.
These pages will assist you with our referral process. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries before referring a patient. You may also wish to view details on our consultants and nurse specialists by visiting our our services / specialist section.
If you are a patient or visitor to the Trust, you will find more relevant information in our patient and visitor section.
Booking patient transport
Transport for patients is now booked via our online booking form.
Referral procedure
With the exception of suspected cancer referrals, when referring a patient to any of the Trust's services we request that GPs follow the following procedures:
All referrals need to be by letter with the exception of the direct access radiology and pathology (for which pre-printed request forms are available).
Unless you need the patient to be seen by a particular consultant please address your letter “Dear Doctor”, rather than to a named consultant. This will help to expedite your referral. Please send ALL referrals to:
Appointments Office
Darent Valley Hospital
Darenth Wood Road
Dartford
Kent, DA2 8DA
Please ensure that your letters include the following information:
- full GP practice details
- complete patient demographic data, including correct name spelling, date of birth, and current daytime telephone number
- patient's NHS number
- all relevant clinical information and indication of urgency
- information on any relevant pathology or x-ray tests carried out
- BMI and BP results if referring patient for potential surgery
- whether the patient needs an interpreter.
New referrals
All patients categorised as 'routine' will be given an appointment within 13 weeks of receipt of referral. The appointments team will try to contact the patient by phone to arrange a convenient appointment time and written confirmation will also be sent.
If the patient requires transport they should be advised to ring patient transport 01322 428877 between 8am – 12noon Monday to Friday to be assessed for medical eligibility.
Suspected cancer referrals
All GP practices should have copies of “Rapid Access Referral” proformas for making suspected cancer referrals. These proformas have been developed by the Kent & Medway Cancer Network, and reflect the current, national referral guidelines for suspected cancers. With the exception of skin cancers which should be referred to Medway Maritime Hospital, each site specific proforma gives details of the dedicated fax line that should be used to make a suspected cancer referral. The fax line number at Darent Valley Hospital on 01322 428631.
Referrals will be pooled between consultants specialising in the relevant cancer and an appointment offered on the first available date. Please note that the Breast Clinic referral proforma and the above fax number can also be used to make non-suspected cancer referrals, but the details given must clearly indicate that cancer is not suspected as a two week wait for an appointment can only be guaranteed for suspected cancers.
If a suspected cancer referral is made by letter the fax line should also be used, however the letter must be marked “Urgent” and clearly indicate that cancer is suspected.
All suspected cancer referrals (whether made by proforma or letter) should be faxed to the Trust to arrive within 24 hours of the GP’s decision to refer, otherwise an appointment cannot be guaranteed within two weeks.
Any hard copy confirmation of suspected cancer referrals should be sent to:-
Cancer Appointments
Cancer Services Team
Admin, Level 3
Darent Valley Hospital
Darenth Wood Road,
Dartford
Kent, DA2 8DA
Patients referred as suspected cancers will be contacted by the cancer services team to arrange an appointment, and written confirmation will always be sent. Appointment letters give details of who to contact should the patient wish to cancel or change the appointment.
Please also note that the cancer services team will make every effort to re-book suspected cancer referral patients who Do Not Attend (DNA) their first appointments. In accordance with cancer waiting times guidance this will be within two weeks of the date of the DNA. The number of times that a patient DNAs, and is given another date will be in line with the existing DNA rules for the relevant consultant’s clinic.
Any questions relating to this service should be made via the cancer services team on:
