First, confirm where you are in the pathway
Ask: Have you received my referral? Is it still active? Am I waiting for an assessment, treatment or another stage? Which team currently holds it? These questions can uncover simple administrative problems without requiring you to retell your whole story.
Ask about the wait in a useful way
Instead of only asking “How long is the list?”, ask for the current approximate wait for your stage, when the estimate was last updated and when you should contact them again if you have heard nothing.
Ask what could make an appointment happen sooner
Ask whether there is a cancellation or short-notice list, and whether phone, video, group or different-location appointments are appropriate options for you. You can also ask what happens if your symptoms get worse while you wait.
Ask what to prepare
Find out what the first appointment is for, how long it usually lasts, whether you can bring notes or another person, and what information would be useful. Write the answers down so you do not have to rely on memory.
You do not have to use every suggestion. Choose the one thing that would make today or your next contact with the service a little easier.
Trusted sources
NHS: Mental health services ↗NHS: Talking Therapies ↗General UK information, not a diagnosis or personal treatment plan. Services vary by area and UK nation. Information reviewed 8 September 2026.