Having a nice day are you?
yes demand a referral because GPs are now gatekeepers and send you out with nothing unless you ask for it. And then serious illness gets missed, sometimes fatally, and always painfully. Many experiences come to mind of me, friends and family.
Most recent for me if I didn't change GP and keep asking for a referral (twice blocked by existing GP) I would still be suffering with my condition which the GP dismissed outright. Now have full recovery.
A friend recently had her condition booted out of the surgery and only six months later got a referral after saying it wasn't going away - guess what, it was cancer. I have other examples. So yes demand a referral if you think you need one.