“Doctors are warning that NHS patients face “dangerous” treatment delays due to a 10-fold increase in referral management centres.
The centres act as a filter between GPs and hospitals.
About a third of health commissioning groups in England use the centres, but the number of patients being rejected has increased steadily in the last two years, often for administrative reasons such as information missing in a referral letter.
The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, described it as a barrier that takes decisions about patients away from GPs. The NHS said such centres helped ensure people got the right advice, care or treatment.”
Source: BBC Devon Live website
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