GPs in Somerset and Dorset have been told they will not need to carry out their own referrals using Choose and Book, and can continue directing their patients towards their existing phone-based referral service.
The referral management service is hosted by Somerset Coast PCT and is popular among GPs. It has received central funding from the Department of Health to update its services to become compatible with Choose and Book.
Dr Harry Yoxhall, medical director of Somerset LMC, told E-Health Insider: "If Choose and Book has to be had, we think that this model is a better model and is likely to be more acceptable to GPs."
"The referral management service has been extremely successful in its terms of take up by GPs," said Dr Yoxhall, who said that it generated good activity data for the PCTs and can help them meet waiting time targets.
The existing system allows patients to phone the local referral service and book an appointment. Patients will continue to do this, but the trained operators will patch into the Choose and Book system.
Somerset’s system will run separately to the central Choose And Book Appointments Line, set up a year ago to allow patients to track or change their referral appointments, or book them if they are unable to do so in the surgery.
Dr Yoxhall said that the LMC had been involved in discussions with Dorset and Somerset SHA about the continuation and expansion of the service, and that they had been "very lucky" that the DH had agreed to fund the transfer.
Although Somerset LMC continues to hold reservations about Choose and Book, saying it will cause extra workload for healthcare professionals and administration staff, the use of the existing system is seen as a positive development.
Choose and Book has not been implemented in the area as yet, and the phone system is still in the process of being renewed. "The system is not yet up and running as I think it’s still in the technological development process," said Dr Yoxhall. "There are still no practices with the functional software installed."
John Conquer, operations manager at the referral management service, agreed that the system would increase GP take-up of Choose and Book, and that keeping the local practices and systems already in place would prove useful to patients and healthcare professionals alike.