On Sun, 2004-05-02 at 10:43, Mary Hawking wrote:
> The information needed in a colorectal referral - indeed any referrals
> for specific conditions - is relatively straightforward: can they be
> used as a model for *all* e-referrals?
There's some discussion going on locally about what needs to be included
in e-referrals. A number of referrals (e.g. X-ray, "two week wait",
physiotherapy) are now made using a browser-based system over NHSNet.
As a purist I regret that the web page is non-standard, because it only
works properly with Microsoft (R) Internet Explorer and not other
browsers. But most of my colleagues complain that the system is slow and
requires too many fields to be filled in. A proposed new referral form
for gynaecological problems looked like a check list for first year
clinical students.
Those local GPs who have given feedback have unanimously advised that
the number of essential fields should be kept to a minimum. I think
there should then be a very large field (not limited to 200 characters)
in which the GP can elaborate on any aspect of the case if he/she so
wishes.
Though aware of the dangers of hubris, I will state that I have always
tried to write good referral letters which give all relevant information
but also something of the "flavour" of the problem. Unfortunately the
day of the "please see and treat" letter is not yet over, though
nowadays we may all plead stress and overwork.
Mike
--
Dr G M Leuty
Victoria Health Centre, Glasshouse Street, Nottingham NG1 3LW
Tel. 0115 948 3030
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