In message <[log in to unmask]>, Dr David J
Plews <[log in to unmask]> writes
>At 14:12 06/11/1996 UT, Paul wrote:
>>I have today had a missive from East Riding HA asking us to restrict emergency
>>and routine referrals, as they are predicted to overspend, on pain of halting
>>elective work. Is this ethical? How should one, or should one, do this? What
>>is our legal position? Will we be blamed if, as most likely happens, referrals
>>continue upwards? If the PR shit hits the fan, will ERH say " well of course
>>the patient should have got his treatment, but it's the clinical
>>responsibility of the GP to refer"?
>>
>Are they stopping elective surgery or out-patient activity?
>If it is only the former then there should no problem making a referral as
>it is then the responsibility of the consultant to decide the priority of
>treatment, within the constraints laid down by his trusts accountants :-(
>and the HA accountants:-(
We're still feeling the after-effects of this type of situation
regarding physiotherapy. At that time there were almost no
physiotherapists, and GP referals for physiotherapy were returned ,
apparently unopened. The result was, of course, that all "needs" were
being met - after all, there was no record of unmet need, was there? -
GPs gave up refering .. and now the service is functioning again, GPs
are always being blamed for their "increased use"! ;-<
Er, *how* do you restrict emergency referals? Is this supposed to imply
that these are unecessary in the first place (in which case, why were
they allowed in through the hospital's own admission processes) .. and
aren't most "routine" referals initially outpatient visits .. in the
next financial year .. or maybe the year after that.
Does the *payement* occur when the referal letter is received, or only
after the service has been performed?
Mary
--
Mary Hawking
Kingsbury Court Surgery
Church Street
Dunstable
Beds LU5 4RS
tel:01582 601289 (home)
01582 663218 (surgery) /HELP>
fax:01582 476488 (surgery) /
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