Growth in rejected referrals hitting hard

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Growth in rejected referrals hitting hard

Bryan Betty - RNZCGP high res 3 2020

Bryan Betty

Hospital clinic bed CR Martha Dominguez De Gouveia on Unsplash
Once patients are approved for surgery, it’s critical that they stay on the waiting list and aren’t sent back to their GP without getting the treatment they need [Image: Martha-dominguez de gouveia on Unsplash]

Rejected referrals to specialist services have risen considerably. Bryan Betty discusses a new report which outlines the enormous burden this puts on patients and practices

A GP will only make a referral when it is warranted; these patients have a genuine clinical need for specialist healthcare – and they are not getting