TY - JOUR
T1 - An evaluation of referrer factors for 98,671 referrals made to the West Yorkshire oral surgery managed clinical network over a three-year period
AU - Pretty, Iain
AU - Douglas, Gail
AU - Mighell, Alan J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the British Dental Association.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Introduction Patients referred from primary dental care to hospital-based specialists in high volumes can contribute to significant NHS service pressures. Surprisingly, little is understood about what contributes to referral factors. Aims To gain new insight into the referral factors from primary dental care by interrogating the tri-speciality West Yorkshire managed clinical network (MCN) referral pathway data for a 36-month period (2016-2019). Methods Anonymised referrals from the electronic referral management system were collated for analyses. Results There were 98,671 referrals within the 36-month period, 12.3% of which were rejected. Of those accepted for triage, 76% were directed at oral surgery, with >60% accounted for by exodontia. In total, 10% of referrers accounted for 60% of all referrals. Peak referral occurred five years after General Dental Council registration. Discussion This is the first report of referral data from a tri-speciality MCN with exodontia referrals predominating. The data set demonstrates variation in referrer behaviours despite referral guidance. Referrals should be based upon patient need but patterns observed in this study suggested possible associations with high and low referral patterns which warrant further research. Conclusions Interrogation of the referral database suggests that there are interesting patterns of referral which may be associated with characteristics of the referrer as well as their patients' needs. Further investigation could inform improved processes and service design, as well as education delivery and workforce development.
AB - Introduction Patients referred from primary dental care to hospital-based specialists in high volumes can contribute to significant NHS service pressures. Surprisingly, little is understood about what contributes to referral factors. Aims To gain new insight into the referral factors from primary dental care by interrogating the tri-speciality West Yorkshire managed clinical network (MCN) referral pathway data for a 36-month period (2016-2019). Methods Anonymised referrals from the electronic referral management system were collated for analyses. Results There were 98,671 referrals within the 36-month period, 12.3% of which were rejected. Of those accepted for triage, 76% were directed at oral surgery, with >60% accounted for by exodontia. In total, 10% of referrers accounted for 60% of all referrals. Peak referral occurred five years after General Dental Council registration. Discussion This is the first report of referral data from a tri-speciality MCN with exodontia referrals predominating. The data set demonstrates variation in referrer behaviours despite referral guidance. Referrals should be based upon patient need but patterns observed in this study suggested possible associations with high and low referral patterns which warrant further research. Conclusions Interrogation of the referral database suggests that there are interesting patterns of referral which may be associated with characteristics of the referrer as well as their patients' needs. Further investigation could inform improved processes and service design, as well as education delivery and workforce development.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125618568&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41415-022-4034-z
DO - 10.1038/s41415-022-4034-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85125618568
SN - 0007-0610
JO - British Dental Journal
JF - British Dental Journal
ER -