When patients get a referral
They search the name on the letter. I ran 30 of those searches and read 89 specialist practice websites on 30 September 2026. Here is what it means for you.
The name search
In 30 searches, a directory came first 17 times. A hospital, hospital group or university page came first 10 times. Your own site is up against those.
Your front door
In 8 of 30 searches, the practice homepage missed the top 10. Patients found a profile, About or service page instead. The homepage made the top 3 only once.
Four questions patients have
How do I send the letter? How long does it last? How long is the wait? What does the first visit cost? Your site should answer each one.
Who the page is for
Of 89 sites, 49 spoke to the GP and 34 to the patient. And 30 had a section for referring doctors but never told patients how to send their letter.
How long a referral lasts
A GP referral usually lasts 12 months under Medicare. Only 2 of the 89 sites said when those 12 months start. You can make that clear on yours.
Wait and fee
Publish both only if they are true and current. Give your wait as a rough guide, and give your price exactly.
What to do
That is the page a name search finds. Tell your patients how to send the letter, how long it lasts, the wait and the fee.
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