Appointments
Lost or Forgot Your NHS Hospital Appointment Details? How to Check
You know you have a hospital appointment coming up, but the letter has gone missing, the text has been deleted, or you simply can't remember the date. You can usually find the details again quickly. Here is where to look and who to ask.
Where to look first
- NHS App: go to Appointments, then Hospital and specialist appointments. It shows e-RS referral information and, where the trust is connected, appointments from its patient portal.
- Manage Your Referral (nhs.uk/referrals): if you were referred through e-RS, you can view your first appointment with your booking reference and password from your referral letter.
- Your hospital's own patient portal or app, if it uses one. Search your email and texts for its name.
- Old texts, emails and letters from the hospital: they usually include the department's phone number.
Why it may not be in the NHS App
NHS England Digital says the appointment information in the NHS App varies depending on the patient portal each trust uses, and some trusts are not connected. You can only manage your first referral appointment in the app; later appointments are managed with the provider. You need to be 16 or over, and some trusts require 18.
So if you cannot see it in the app, that is not proof the appointment has been cancelled.
Confirming with the hospital
Ring the hospital's outpatient booking team or the switchboard and ask for the department you are under. Have your NHS number, date of birth and address ready. Ask them to confirm the date, time, location, and whether it is face to face, by phone or by video. While you are on the phone, check they hold your current address and phone number.
Be careful with 'cancel' buttons
If you are looking at your appointment in the NHS App, avoid pressing cancel unless you mean it. NHS guidance says you may not be able to change your mind and, depending on the provider, you may be removed from the waiting list.
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.
I can't find my hospital appointment letter. What should I do?
Check the NHS App and any hospital patient portal, then ring the hospital booking team with your NHS number and date of birth to confirm the details.
Why isn't my appointment in the NHS App?
Not every trust is connected, and the information shown varies by trust. Later appointments for an existing referral are managed with the provider rather than in the app.
Can my GP tell me my hospital appointment date?
Sometimes, if the hospital has copied them in, but the hospital booking team holds the live record and is the most reliable source.
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Sources & references3
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.