A 4.7% fall in the number of GP referrals since beginning Aprila, could cause financial problems for hospitals, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.
 
The total referrals, according to the NHS statistics, were also seen to drop by 5.2%.  A 2.7% year on year decrease in the volume of first-time outpatient attendances is highlighted in the data that includes records up to July.
 
The increase in referral management initiatives has place the NHS under immense pressure to do less, according to a BMA spokesman.  While, these may save money, each lost referral means a patient is not being diagnosed or treated, with the hospital likely to encounter financial problems.
 
However, a Department of Health spokesman said the figures indicated people are receiving treatment in the ‘the most appropriate setting’.
 
According to him, the Government protecting NHS spending will ensure continued delivery of improvements in care.  These figures indicate a movement of care away from hospital settings and closer to home, to prevent unnecessary admissions.
 
But, research as recent as last month suggests, GP referrals to hospitals for tests and treatment are being blocked by nurses, who are being used by some NHS trusts along with nurses, podiatrists and physiotherapists for determining whether GP referrals are appropriate.