Electronic referrals for ongoing care: advice and guidance

This report is an interim publication as part of the Health Service Safety Investigation Body’s (HSSIB) focus on electronic patient record systems – electronic referrals for ongoing care. In light of concerns about patient safety heard by HSSIB, this report focuses on advice and guidance (A&G) services in the NHS in England, which enable clinicians in general practice to seek specialist advice from secondary care. It also considers where A&G services are used as part of single point of access models. The report makes two safety recommendations to NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care.