Lincolnshire ‘EACH’ – patient referrals to community services and hospitals

What is EACH?

The Lincolnshire ‘EACH’ – Elective Activity Coordination Hub is a service provided within Lincolnshire to assist with patient referrals to community services and hospitals (including private) for NHS treatment.

A proportion of referrals go through clinical triage to assess suitability and to determine the most appropriate place of care.

EACH supports NHS  Lincolnshire system in meeting the outcomes of the ‘Reforming Elective Care for Patients’ guidance, including supporting GPs and Providers to ensure patients are accessing the right care first time and ensuring patients are offered choice of where they can access their care (where choice is available).

Process

  • The Lincolnshire EACH will try to contact all patients by telephone. (calls will appears as 01522 309500 – Welton House).
  • You may also receive a text message asking you to call the team back within 48 working hours where practicable.
  • Patients will be offered  a minimum of 5 choices of hospital/community provider where appropriate or available.
  • If the team cannot contact you, they may process your referral on your behalf to the most appropriate care setting. You will have the opportunity to call and discuss any other choice options that may be available.
  • You will receive a confirmation letter of where your referral has been sent to/appointment date and time and a cover letter containing more information from the Lincolnshire EACH by email or post.
  • Where appointments are not directly bookable, referrals are reviewed by consultants within the hospital/clinic and patients are prioritised according to their clinical need and appointments will be received in due course.
  • You may also be contacted by Lincolnshire ’EACH’ if you have been on a hospital waiting list for a length of time. This will normally be made from a mobile number. This may be a simple welfare check, or to check if you are clinically suitable to be offered an alternative provider. A text message may also be sent asking you to contact us. A link to our website is also included for assurance.

Contact us

As we work on behalf of your GP practice, we encourage patients to contact Lincolnshire ‘EACH’, rather than your GP, in the first instance, if you have any questions or issues you would like to discuss about your referral.

If you have any queries, you can also contact us by email at LICB.lincolnshire.each@nhs.net or on 01522 309500 Monday-Friday 8am – 8pm (excluding bank holidays).

Please see information below about transport options and help with travel costs.

  • Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS)

    East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) is responsible for delivering Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) for Lincolnshire. Most people should travel to and from hospital independently by private or public transport, with the help of relatives or friends if necessary. NHS-funded patient transportation is reserved for when it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery.  

    Only patients who meet one of the below reasons for an appointment will be considered for eligibility for NEPTS:

    • The patient has been referred by a doctor, dentist or ophthalmic practitioner for non-primary care NHS-funded healthcare services – that is, diagnostics or treatment.

    • The patient is being discharged from NHS-funded treatment.

    To determine if you are eligible for NHS funded transport then full information can be found on the EMAS website and in the patient leaflet.

    Lincolnshire :: East Midlands Ambulance Service (emas.nhs.uk)

    EMAS_NEPTS_leaflet_Aug_2023_version.pdf

    To make a booking please call the booking line: 0300 300 3434. Your relative or carer may also book this for you if needed. Your call will be assessed to see whether you are eligible to use the serviuce by asking you a few simple questions about your medical condition and mobility needs.

  • Help with travel costs

    If you are not eligible for NHS funded transport, you may qualify for help with travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme – full details available via the NHS UK website Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

  • Alternative transport options

    For general information regarding public transport in Lincolnshire call the Transport Helpline on 0345 456 4474 or visit the website LincsBus - Homepage.

    Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 5.30pm, Saturday: 9:30am – 4pm.

    The website contains details of Community and volunteer transport schemes and the on-demand bus service ‘Call Connect’.