LMCs do a lot of work around trying to ensure that activity is undertaken in the correct part of the system. This involves working with trusts to ensure that hospitals are doing what is set out in the NHS Standard Contract, so GPs are free to do the work that is set out in their contract and patients have a more seamless experience.
We like to share good practice where we see it and these pieces of guidance from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust are helpful.
- This fit note guidance encourages specialists to issue fit notes themselves and explains how to do so within the trust’s systems.
- This onward referrals guidance encourages referring between specialties for the same or a related condition. It does still suggest discharging a patient for re-referral by their GP in some circumstances, but is a step in the right direction.