24.10.16
Plan to assess GP outpatient referrals could ‘compromise patient safety’
Plans to assess each GP outpatient referral in Durham have been condemned by the BMA over patient safety concerns.
North Durham CCG has said it will pay About Healthcare to review each GP referral letter for cardiology, gynaecology, dermatology and gastroenterology patients.
It said the move, which costs £10 a letter, would cut down on unnecessary outpatient referrals. Each outpatient appointment costs CCGs around £150.
Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chair of the BMA GPs committee, said: “GPs have undergone years of specialist training to reach a point where they can make vital clinical decisions on referrals in complex areas such as cardiology, gynaecology and gastroenterology.
“It is a very real concern that outsourcing contracts for patient referrals to a private company will compromise patient safety.”
A spokesperson for the CCG said the scheme, known as Rapid Specialist Opinion, is a type of referral management system, with consultants and GPSIs triaging referral letters.
“In cases where onward referral isn’t deemed necessary, advice for primary care treatment or investigation is provided, rather than an actual ‘‘rejection”. This is done using the electronic referral system, and there is no delay for patients who need to wait for an outpatient appointment,” they added.
But Dr George Rae, BMA North East council chair, said: “GPs only refer patients when it is absolutely necessary. Our professional pride depends on it; we’re doing as much as we can to care for and treat patients in the community.
“It is not inconceivable that some doctors will feel undermined by this. It adds another layer of bureaucracy, it will add to the workload of already busy GPs and could lead to delays for patients.”
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