Survey of general practitioners' views of consultants' non-urgent referral of outpatients to other consultants

Abstract

There are an estimated nine million new outpatient referrals each year.1 Between 60% and 80% of these referrals originate from general practitioners.2 Additional referrals arise predominantly from hospital departments. A study in Leicester found a cross referral rate of at least 17% from one clinic to another.3 In the years preceding fundholding the practice of referral between consultants seems to have been accepted.4 However, fundholding general practitioners have become increasingly aware of the cost and logistic implications of this practice and have begun to express their concerns.5 We investigated local general practitioners' preferences about the practice of non-urgent referral of outpatients between consultants. We sent a questionnaire to …