Expansion of NHS self-referral scheme takes pressure off GPs
An additional 180,000 people a month will be able to refer themselves directly for services including hearing tests, podiatry and help with incontinence, without needing to see a GP.
The latest figures – from February 2024 – show that general practices across the country are managing record numbers of appointments: the 30m delivered is an increase of almost a quarter on figures for the same period in the years pre-Covid. This record demand, of course, puts considerable pressure on GP services and adds to waiting times for treatment.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
Now the government has announced a new initiative that aims to give patients more direct access to NHS services they need, while taking pressure off GPs so that they can better target their time and care. Rather than going to their GP first as intermediary, more people will be able to self-refer themselves directly to the NHS for a range of appointments and tests.
Across the NHS, some 200,000 people already self-refer for treatments including audiology and physiotherapy. The new scheme will almost double this number, enabling services to expand the option for self-referral based on local need. This week, the government write to primary care services across the country with guidance on how to put such measures in place.
It’s all part of a wider plan to modernise general practice, offer patients more choice in how they access care and help reduce waiting times for treatment.
Other strategies already announced include requiring every GP practice to allow new patients to register online instead of having to attend the practice in person to fill out a paper form. Some 1.5m more people will be able to order repeat prescriptions on the NHS App (taking the total to some 50m per year). And, in a measure introduced earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of people each year will be able to receive treatment at their local pharmacist for seven common conditions without first seeing a GP.
Under the government’s plan, some 92% of GP practices in England now have cloud-based systems that mean phonelines can be expanded and are not engaged, making it easier for callers to get through. The remaining 8% of practices are finalising dates for similar upgrades.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care at NHS England, says: ‘General practice and pharmacies in the heart of our communities are often the first point of call for people who are unwell, so it is only right the NHS does everything possible to make these services as convenient and modern as possible for patients. The NHS has made important progress over the last year from allowing patients the option to self-refer for key services, order repeat prescriptions, and book blood pressure checks at the touch of a button without the need to call their GP.
‘And we want to make sure that this offer is available to even more people which is why we are expanding the offers in our primary access recovery plan including increasing the number of people who can self-refer for common services without a GP referral – not only is this good news for patients but it will also free up family doctors who are already delivering millions more appointments a month than before the pandemic.’
Andrea Leadsom MP, Minister for Primary Care Minister, adds: ‘Self-referral will give patients greater choice, free up GP appointments and help make access to care faster, simpler and fairer for everyone. We’re determined to continue improving access to our fantastic GPs having already delivered 50m more GP appointments per year compared to 2019. Our Pharmacy First scheme also enables patients to get treatment for seven common conditions without a prescription which, combined with expanded blood pressure checks and oral contraceptive services, will help free up around 10m GP appointments.
‘And we’ve invested £240m on digital tools, telephony and training to ensure GP surgeries have what they need to deliver the best possible service to patients.’
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