🏥 Can a GP Refer You Directly to the National Aspergillosis Centre (UK)?

❌ Unfortunately, no — not directly.

The NAC is a tertiary referral centre, meaning that:

• Referrals must come from a hospital consultant (usually a respiratory or infectious diseases specialist)

• The NAC cannot accept direct referrals from GPs or from patients themselves

This is due to NHS policy and service structure — not because they don’t want to help.

✅ What Your GP Can Do:

Even though they can’t refer you directly, your GP can advocate on your behalf and help move things forward by:

1. Writing to your current hospital consultant to request:

   • A second opinion from NAC

   • Transfer of care or joint management with NAC

   • Review of your images, sputum results, and previous history

2. If your current hospital won’t cooperate, your GP can:

   • Refer you to a different respiratory consultant (at another hospital if needed)

   • Ask that this new consultant considers NAC referral

3. If your case involves rare, persistent, or poorly controlled lung disease with suspected Aspergillus involvement, the NAC is usually happy to review — but only after that consultant request is made.

📂 What to Send (via the consultant)

Your hospital team (at your GP’s request) should ideally send:

• Latest CT scans and chest X-rays

• Sputum culture results

• Total and specific IgE / Aspergillus IgG

• A clear clinical history summary

• Any previous diagnosis letters or clinic notes

🗣️ If You’re Still Not Getting Help

If your current consultants won’t help and your GP is willing, you might also:

• Ask your GP to refer you to a private respiratory specialist (for one appointment only) who may agree to refer you to NAC from there.

• Or contact your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) to escalate the block in access.

💬 Suggested Wording for Your GP:

“I’ve had long-standing respiratory symptoms with suspected Aspergillus involvement and limited progress under my current hospital team. I understand referral to the National Aspergillosis Centre requires a hospital consultant, but would you be willing to request that my current team (or an alternative respiratory consultant) considers this referral on my behalf?”

💡 Summary:

• ❌ GPs cannot refer you directly to NAC

• ✅ Your GP can request your hospital consultant do it — and advocate for you

• 🛑 If you’re being blocked, ask to be referred to another consultant who may be more open to referring to NAC