Referrals
'Deferred to Provider' on Your NHS Referral: What It Means
Seeing 'deferred to provider' on your referral can sound like it has been put off or pushed away. In the NHS e-Referral Service it means something narrower: the job of booking your first appointment has been handed to the hospital or service you were referred to.
What the status means
In e-RS, a referral is deferred when the referring professional (usually your GP practice) sends it to the chosen provider because no suitable slot could be booked. NHS England Digital describes deferred referrals as appearing on the provider's appointment slot issues worklist, so that the provider can book the appointment. If you did this yourself through Manage Your Referral or the NHS App, the same step is called forwarding.
What normally happens next
The provider's booking team works through its appointment slot issues worklist and contacts you to arrange the appointment. NHS England Digital says patients are told they will be contacted within a set number of days based on clinical priority. Clinicians at the provider may also review the referral at this stage and record an outcome.
- Keep your booking reference (UBRN).
- Watch for a letter, text, NHS App update or call from the hospital.
- If the contact period you were given passes, ring the hospital booking team and quote your reference.
How it differs from rejected, returned or cancelled
- Deferred to provider: still with the hospital, waiting to be booked.
- Returned or rejected: the provider has sent the referral back to the referrer, often with advice or a request for more information.
- Redirected: moved to a different service or clinic that the provider thinks is more appropriate.
- Cancelled: the referral or appointment has been withdrawn. Confirm with the hospital or GP before assuming this.
Why a referral is returned or redirected · Why has my referral status changed?
A note on what we cannot tell you
The status does not tell you your position on a list or when you will be seen. Only the provider can tell you that. This guide explains administrative processes only. If your symptoms change or get worse while you wait, contact your GP, NHS 111, or the clinical team named on your letter.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers first. Tap a question to read more.
Is 'deferred to provider' bad news?
It is an administrative status. It means the hospital is now responsible for booking your first appointment, usually because no slot could be booked directly.
Has my referral been rejected?
No. A rejected or returned referral goes back to the referrer. A deferred referral stays with the provider to be booked.
Who should I contact?
The hospital or service the referral was deferred to, usually its appointments or booking team. Your GP practice can confirm which provider it went to.
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Sources & references4
Reviewed against publicly available NHS England RTT guidance and the NHS Constitution.
Editorial transparency
How this guide was put together
- Reviewed against the latest publicly available NHS England RTT statistics and guidance.
- Written and edited by the NHSWaitHelper editorial team.
- Cross-checked against the NHS Constitution and operational guidance.
- Independent — no paid hospital rankings, no hidden sponsorship.
NHSWaitHelper is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with the NHS. We do not provide medical or legal advice. Always speak to your GP, clinician, or a regulated adviser about your individual circumstances.