All GP referrals should be subject to clinical peer review, says NHS England

GPs will be expected to discuss with other GP colleagues their decision to refer any new patients to hospital, as part of a push by NHS England to curb inappropriate referrals to secondary care.

Guidance issued by NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in May stated that all areas of the country should have a system in place from September 2017 to ensure that all new GP referrals are subject to clinical peer review.

A spokesman for NHS England told The BMJ that around half of CCGs already had a peer review process in place and that it was up to the other half to follow suit. NHS England emphasised that any system should not be “established …