GP Referrals

Known person

Colleague recommends

List everyone

System lottery

Facilitator

A GP referral aims to helps each person move forward. Referrals can be for tests, opinions or social support. GPs need to know those people they are referring to are they feel and have a responsibility for getting it right. If the referral does not work well then a patient will be upset, if a referral goes well both the patient and GP can benefit. There are several ways a GP decides who to refer to.

Known person

If the GP has met the consultant they refer to they will have made an assessment of how professional they are and are likely to have discussed their approach to managing patient problems. This appraisal may be based on the relationship more than the factual information, but it is a start and facilitates subsequent communication and shared decision making.

Colleague recommends

If there is no close working relationship the opinion of trusted colleagues who have worked with that person will also help and add to the information available on the internet or other publications.

List everyone

The more holistic approach is to list everyone who is known to have he relevant expertise and leave the patient to chose who they feel is most appropriate. The overcomes the issue of responsibility for recommending on person but does not help inform the patient about their choice. A mixed approach with some recommendations or advice is better.

System lottery

Referrals can be left to the systems that are in place for healthcare. These are based on supply and demand as well as knowledge of who is available. Occasionally those people with most capacity might have less demand for their services because they are less good.

Facilitator

Having someone else who can guide and facilitate the referral with the patient can help if there are limitations to the GPs time finding and sharing all the relevant information. A more in depth discussion of information that exists about the referral routes aligned to the patients own personal circumstances and preferences can take place. However the GPs knowledge of local facilities, people and the patients own circumstances may be overlooked unless this is actively included.