Graham Ross wrote:
>
> Paul Caldwell 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?
>
> To answer your question, an emergency is an emergency.If your opinion is
> that urgent treatment is required you must refer. It is then up to the
> HA/Trust whether to treat.I can see no defence to the GP who fails to
> refer simply because the HA/Trust has asked him not to. Refer and pass
> responsibility onto the HA/Trust.
Clearly GPs that become involved in administration of secondary care
(e.g. total fundholders or embryonic Dorrel flowers) will not have such a
convenient fallback position. Beware!
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