A new system is being introduced to speed up hospital referrals and help prevent unnecessary referrals.
Currently referrals to hospitals are made using a number of different methods, for example, letters both paper and electronic or some practices have created their own referral proforma.
However, new electronic proformas have been developed to help standardise the information provided, to guide referrers on what information they need to provide and to speed up and improve the referral process
The forms will easily merge with data already held on GP computers such as demographic and practice details, summary medical history, drugs and allergies.
The forms are designed to be as straightforward as possible with guidance with links to evidence and NICE guidance.
They will be stored with updates on the local Map of Medicines web site.
The new system will help stop unnecessary referrals as the guidance on the forms may direct the referrer to a number of other options first such as further interventions or tests prior to referral.
Another benefit of the proforma is that it will reduce the need for dictation as much of the information needed will be downloaded straight from the patient’s records.
The proformas will be introduced over the next few months. There will be a launch of a generic form along with some examples of forms that have been completed.
