Outpatient Referrals from July 2015
North Tyneside CCG introduced a referral management system in July 2015 within specialities: Dermatology, Ophthalmology, ENT, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Respiratory, Plastics, Colorectal, Urology, Cardiology, Nephrology and Vascular.
About health are managing this system on behalf of the CCG.
Patient Information
Why are changes happening?
Overuse of hospital services is significantly contributing to North Tyneside CCG’s financial deficit position. The cost to the NHS of attending a hospital outpatient appointment when it may not be necessary is on average £145. We all have an important role to play in ensuring that we all access the most appropriate services within the NHS.
The CCG and its member practices have a statutory duty to make the best use of resources and not exceed our financial allocation. This is about spending money where it is intended and in the best interests of the whole patient population.
What is being put in place?
The Referral Management System (RMS) is a scheme which the CCG has put in place to ensure that referrals to secondary care are appropriate, and only made when relevant primary care and community based solutions have been applied. This is entirely consistent with our responsibility to make the best use of resources, and is in the overall best interest of our patients.
What will be different?
The Referral Management System (RMS) aims to bring all referrals up to the standard of the best. This means that referrals will be looked at by Consultants and GPs with Special Interests against a set of agreed clinical criteria. If all criteria for referral have been met, then the referral will go ahead in the usual way. If criteria are not met, then the referral will be returned to the referring GP for agreement with the patient on alternative treatments.
How will we know if it is working?
The CCG and GP Practices will be monitoring the impact of this on a monthly basis to determine that the implementation of the system is ensuring that patients are receiving the best care in the most appropriate place.
Working together to maximise the health and well being of North Tyneside Communities by making the best use of NHS resources.