Haematology Referral Guidance for GPs
The BHRUT Haematology Service is currently experiencing high demand, receiving around 500 referrals each month through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) Advice and Refer pathway.
Approximately 130 referrals each month require onward referral into secondary care. Due to the volume of referrals, around one full-time consultant is dedicated to triaging referrals each week. Despite this, there is currently a backlog of routine referrals awaiting triage.
To help reduce waiting times and ensure patients receive timely care, we kindly ask GP colleagues to consider the following before submitting a referral.
Before making a referral
Please ensure that:
- Your referral meets the agreed referral criteria (see the guidance below).
- Your clinical question is clearly summarised within the first two sentences of your referral.
- Notes from GP consultations are not uploaded unless specifically required.
Referral guidance
The updated guidance covers the following conditions:
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Raised vitamin B12
- Raised ferritin
- Mild cytopenias
- Mild lymphocytosis
- Suspected bleeding disorders
Please refer to the accompanying guidance document when considering whether a referral is appropriate.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us improve referral quality and reduce waiting times for patients.
Haematology Management Team
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust