Central Referral Allocation - Outpatient Services

Central Referral Allocation – Outpatient Services

This policy is to inform Health Services of the commencement of the metropolitan Central Referral Service (and associated policy) on 24 February 2014.

A standardised referral process that allocates referrals to a clinically appropriate health service site within a clinically safe timeframe aims to provide a coordinated and sustainable model for outpatient referral management across the system.

The establishment of the Central Referral Service aims to:

• Improve access and reduce patient delays for initial outpatient appointments and therefore subsequent downstream services.
• Allocate referrals to the most appropriate health service site based on patient location, specialty required and level of service required.
• Standardise and streamline the referral process for first specialist outpatient appointment.

The Central Referral Service will process and allocate all doctor-led metropolitan specialist outpatient referrals to the public health system from external providers, such as General Practitioners (GPs), Private Specialists and Nurse Practitioners.

The Central Referral Service will accept referrals for metropolitan doctor-led outpatient specialties from GPs, private specialists, nurse practitioners and Department of Health doctors working within rural areas, where the service is not offered locally.

All Health Services and Department of Health staff involved in elective services in both a clinical and administrative capacity, in particular outpatient services, should be aware of and comply with the Central Referral Service Policy (February 2014).

Professor Bryant Stokes
A/DIRECTOR GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WA