As a GP, one of the things my patients tell me most often is that they want quicker access to the NHS services they need. Changes to the way hospitals across England handle referrals for specialist care are designed to help with this.
Under these changes, when a GP or other healthcare professional refers you for specialist care, a hospital specialist will first review the information in your referral and decide on the most appropriate next step. The aim is to make sure you receive the right care, as quickly as possible.
That may mean arranging a scan, test or investigation before deciding on next steps. Or, it could mean a hospital specialist providing advice through your GP, or referring you to a different NHS service that is better placed to help with your care.
You will still be offered a hospital appointment if this is the right next step for you.
Hospitals in Essex will start to introduce changes this autumn. Each hospital will decide which of its specialist services will be the first to handle referrals in this new way. Patient safety will still be the main priority throughout, and so the changes are being introduced gradually.
The information below explains what is changing, what it will mean for you as a patient, and what to expect if your referral is reviewed under the new process.
Find out what’s changing and what it means for you