More than 113,000 patients received faster, more appropriate care in April 2025 thanks to the NHS’s Advice and Guidance scheme, which enables GPs to consult specialists immediately after seeing patients - avoiding unnecessary hospital referrals and long waiting times.
The scheme allows GPs to quickly seek input from hospital clinicians, who advise whether patients need specialist treatment or can be directed to community services such as dietitians, physiotherapists, or sexual health experts. This approach helps patients begin treatment up to 13 weeks sooner, bypassing elective waiting lists and reducing pressure on hospitals.
Backed by £80 million in government funding, the scheme offers £20 per referral to GP surgeries. Since incentives were introduced in April, 99% of general practices have signed up, leading to a 14% increase in patients receiving earlier specialist input compared to the previous year.
Key outcomes include:
- 10-week reduction in outpatient waits at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for liver, stomach and bowel conditions
- 3,100 advice requests processed in April, with 1,000 patients diverted from hospital waiting lists
- 21% increase in uptake in the South West, and 8% increases in London and the North East & Yorkshire
Stephen Kinnock, Health Minister, said:
“Through our Plan for Change, we’re taking a common sense approach that’s tapping into existing expertise in the system, making use of wider services, and getting patients the right care faster.
“Over 100,000 people have avoided unnecessary hospital queues because GPs are bypassing waiting lists and going direct to specialists for expert advice. It means quicker care for patients closer to home, less pressure on hospitals and more time for doctors to focus on those who need them most.
“It’s a win-win to deliver care closer to home, and create a more efficient, joined-up NHS that’s improving patient outcomes.”
The scheme also reduces the need for patients to travel long distances - sometimes up to 80 miles - for hospital appointments that may not be necessary. GPs can digitally consult specialists and redirect patients to more suitable care pathways, improving outcomes and saving time.
Advice and Guidance is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change and 10-Year Health Plan, which aims to shift more care from hospitals to community settings and divert up to two million patients from elective waiting lists by the end of 2025–26.
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