Whatever the true picture regarding GP autonomy and variation in referrals to secondary care, it seems likely that most of us have at least some interest in how our referrals compare with others.1 Inevitably this has come under the current financial spot light. We are being told to make less referrals, find cheaper solutions, still practise safe, evidence-based medicine and, on the sharp end of NHS care delivery, explain all this and apologise to patients.
Our local PCT provided us with data related to our referrals to hospital outpatient clinics that resulted in patients being seen only once. Their interpretation of this crude data was that these referrals could therefore be seen as unnecessary. When I looked more closely at the cases involved it included One-Stop Clinics (for example, haematuria and DVT) and suspicious moles and breast lump referrals.
Ask any GP and there are often multifactorial reasons behind a referral. If some of these referrals are truly inappropriate then by all means provide us with feedback, but at least make certain the data is meaningful and accurate so that reasonable and valid conclusions can be drawn. And don't make sweeping policy decisions based on erroneous conclusions.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2012
