Most of our referrals are from secondary care – consultant to consultant.
For blood cancer (haemato-oncology), some referrals are from GPs.
For all referrals
We need the patient’s details as per the Inter Provider Transfer Minimum Data Set (IPTMDS) for all referrals, together with an accompanying letter and all diagnostic information.
Our web-based e-Referral Portal supports timely, effective patient referrals.
Referring patients via the Portal ensures:
• Referrals meet the minimum dataset (MDS) requirements before submission.
• We can review, triage, accept or return referrals more efficiently.
• Patients receive timelier appointments once accepted.
• Referrals remain high quality and aligned across all referring Trusts.
(To enable access to the application from Trust-managed devices, we kindly request that the following URL be whitelisted on all hospital-approved browsers and network configurations: https://
Upon accessing the link:
- Enter email address and complete the authentication step.
- A verification code will be sent via email (check the spam/junk folder if not received within 5 minutes).
- After verification, the referral process can begin.
Key steps in the referral process
The Portal guides the user through:
- Selecting the relevant Site Reference Group (SRG)
- Completing initial clinical questions
- Confirming referral type and MDS compliance
- Entering patient demographics, Next of Kin and GP/referrer details
- Selecting the CCC oncologist (or choosing “CCC to Assign”)
- Uploading required clinical documents (10MB max per file)
- Submitting the referral for CCC review
Once submitted, the user will receive:
- A confirmation email
- Either an acceptance notification or a returned referral with comments
Bypass process
If a patient has already been accepted at a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting by a CCC consultant, but lacks the required documents - a bypass process is available.
Our Registrations Hotline is available for support with the bypass process on 0151 556 5550.
Technical issues with the Portal can be reported to support
Submit a patient referral to the Cancer of Unknown Primary MDT
The Cancer of Unknown Primary MDT meeting is at 12:00pm (midday) on Thursdays. The referral deadline is 10:00am on Wednesday.
Information for health professionals
Our Cancer of Unknown Primary team provide the following services:
- Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance Cancer of Unknown Primary Specialist MDT meeting
- Specialist advice and guidance about diagnosis and treatment of patients with CUP
- Weekly specialist regional CUP clinic
- Treatment planning and delivery
- Emotional and psychological support for CUP patients and their carers
- Holistic needs assessment (HNA) – understanding each patient’s concerns and needs so we can share information and provide care in the right way for them
- Clinical research and audit
- Education and training
- Whole genome sequencing – DNA tests to try and identify the primary cancer and/or understand how best to treat CUP
Policies, pathways and guidelines
Clinical guidance on cancer of unknown primary (Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance)
We can accept referrals for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, also known as CAR-T cell therapy or just CAR-T therapy. The service is provided by our stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies team. You can contact them with any queries or to discuss a potential referral.
To refer a patient, please complete our CAR-T referral form and email it to the team.
Our Lymphoedema service at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool accepts referrals for eligible patients*.
Referrals should be made by completing the Lymphoedema referral form.
Email queries to the Lymphoedema team
Call 0151 556 5015
*Patients in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, South Sefton and St Helens – MerseyCare provide the lymphoedema service for people in these areas. Referral guidance for MerseyCare’s lymphoedema service.
The MSCC service aims to provide urgent treatment for patients who have suspected or confirmed metastatic spinal cord compression.
Referring patients
Patient Pass – new electronic clinical referral system for the Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) service.
As of Monday 9th March 2026, referrals to the MSCC service at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre must be made electronically using the Patient Pass system. Referrals using word documents will no longer be accepted.
Patient Pass is a secure online platform (accessible only via Trust devices) that enables instant two-way communication between clinical teams across hospitals and provides a central hub to document and track a patient’s treatment, management plan, and transfer.
To send a Clinical Referral to the MSCC service at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, please create a Patient Pass account (medical staff should register using your GMC/NMC number).
Once a referral has been successfully submitted you will receive an automatic verification and notification via email when it has been reviewed and when messages have been sent relating to a patient's care.
Please ensure that your email is monitored in order to receive updated communication and avoid delays in your patient management.
If you require more information, please contact the MSCC coordinator on 07584312049.
For further assistance, please refer to the Patient Pass user guide.
Advice and support
The team is happy to provide advice and support to clinicians before referring patients to this service.
Email queries to the MSCC team
Call 07584 312049
Find out what makes the service so unique: BBC TV (August 2023)
Our Palliative Radiotherapy service aims to provide timely review, planning and treatment to patients who need radiotherapy to help relieve symptoms.
Any clinician wishing to refer a patient can do so by completing a Palliative Radiotherapy Service Referral Form.
Advice and support
The team is happy to provide advice and support to clinicians on the management of patients, before or after review by the Palliative Radiotherapy service.
This includes any questions you might have about whether a patient is suitable for referral to the service.
A small number of referrals relate to international (overseas) patients.
For international referrals, we will need as much information as possible including details of:
- Diagnosis
- Surgery
- Previous treatment
Referrals must be made in English. If the patient does come to us for treatment, we can arrange an interpreter.
Visit our international patients page for further information.
Further information
Contact our Registrations Team if you would like more information referring a patient to us.
Call 0151 556 5550