Latest updates for GPs

Diagnostic turnaround times

Primary care colleagues can expect to receive test results from cardiology and pathology within the timeframes below.

These start when a sample is received in our laboratories, or the test has been completed. They are subject to change. 

  • 24-hour blood pressure monitoring: one week 
  • 24-hour ECG: three weeks 
  • Echo: two weeks 
  • ECG: one week 

  • 24-hour blood pressure monitoring: one day 
  • 24-hour ECG: three weeks 
  • Echo: two weeks 
  • ECG: one week 

All ECG results are sent with an automatically generated algorithm, rather than a separate clinical report. Results for the other tests listed above are sent with a cardiac physiologist report.

If you have a specific clinical question about your patients’ results, please submit an advice and guidance request via the NHS e-Referral Service. Do not submit a request for general comment on a patient’s results. 

  • Biochemistry tests: three days 
  • Haematology tests: two days

  • X-rays: ten days 
  • Ultrasounds: two days 
  • Dexa scans: three to four weeks 

Please ensure paper referrals include the signature of the referring GP. We are legally unable to accept referrals without a valid signature. For T-Quest requests, a signature is not required.

The patient should be given the T-Quest print out for x-ray requests (this does not require a signature).

  • X-rays: ten days 
  • Ultrasounds: two days 
  • Dexa scans: one to two weeks

Please ensure that paper referrals include the signature of the referring GP. We are legally unable to accept referrals without a valid signature. For T-Quest requests a signature is not required.

The patient should be given the T-Quest print out for X-ray requests (this does not require a signature).

Key contacts

GP liaison service

Our GP liaison service is open to primary care colleagues as an informal route to raise an enquiry or concern about any of our services. This includes services at Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, or any of our satellite sites. 

It is a non-urgent and non-clinical service. 

You can contact the GP liaison service by email via rf.gpliaison@nhs.net, or by calling 020 3758 2000 ext 36015. 

The GP liaison service is only open to NHS colleagues and other healthcare professionals.

Tel: 020 7433 0061 or 020 7433 0080 

Royal Free Hospital

Tel: 020 3758 2070
Email: rf.biochemhaemaddon@nhs.net

Barnet Hospital/Chase Farm Hospital/Edgware Community Hospital

Tel: 020 8216 4885
Email: rf-tr.barnetlab.helpdesk@nhs.net

The results helplines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

tQuest support

For tQuest support enquiries, please email helpdesk@tdlpathology.com.

Royal Free Hospital

Email: rf.radiologyenquiries@nhs.net (monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Barnet Hospital/Chase Farm Hospital/Potters Bar Hospital/Finchley Memorial Hospital/Edgware Community Hospital

Email: rf-tr.bh-radiology@nhs.net (monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Tel: 020 3758 2000

Visit the GP website

Referral information for GPs

A number of our services have GP-specific contact information for referrals — these are all provided below.

For all our services, please use our A-Z service search and when you are on the relevant service page, click on ‘referral information’ for full information about referrals.

Search our A-Z of services

Barnet Hospital GP enquiries: 020 8216 5446/020 8216 5453 (GI); 020 8216 5440 (vascular)

Chase Farm Hospital GP enquiries: 020 8375 1981, 020 8375 1910 or 020 8375 1912 (GI); 020 8375 8628 (vascular)

Royal Free Hospital GP enquiries: 020 7794 0500 ext 38666, 34832, 33603, 31090, 33938 and 33072

For non-urgent queries regarding medication, contact: rf-tr.icdcpharmacy@nhs.net.

For new diagnoses or urgent advice, call the HIV ward consultant on 07929 790 948 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).

Out of hours, call the switchboard via 020 7794 0500 and ask for the on-call specialty registrar (or HIV consultant).

Email: cim-tr.ncl.perinatal@nhs.net

For Royal Free Hospital GP enquiries, call 020 7794 0500 ext 36988.

If urgent advice is required, the rheumatology specialist registrars (ST3 and above), can be contacted by calling 020 7794 0500 and asking for bleep 1806, 1807, or ext 38491.

If urgent advice is required, the rheumatology specialist registrars (ST3 and above), can be contacted by calling 020 7794 0500 and asking for bleep 1806, 1807, or ext 38491.

GP enquiries: 020 7794 0500, bleep 2548 (neurology registrar on call) 

Email: rf.tia-referrals@nhs.net

Barnet Hospital GP enquiries: 020 8216 4029 or 020 8216 4196.

Links to other key information

Contact a service

You can find contact information for services on their individual service page.

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Outpatient appointments

How patients can contact us to ask about their appointment, referral, or test result.

Information on outpatient appointments

My RFL Care Patient Portal

How patients can sign up to My RFL Care patient portal and view and manage appointments, receive and store copies of their hospital letters and more.

My RFL Care Patient Portal: an introduction
How to reschedule or cancel appointments
Common questions answered

Patient transport

How patients can arrange non-emergency patient transport.

Non-emergency patient transport

Making a complaint

How patients can make a complaint.

Formal complaints

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

How patients can contact our patient advice and liaison services (PALS).

Information on PALS

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At the Royal Free London we strive to deliver the best care possible. To find out more about our services, use the keyword search and optional service filters below to quickly find the service you’re looking for.