1. Introduction of the patient email function (non-GP referrers and providers)
Patients are able to receive referral information electronically from non-GP referrers and providers through the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS).
Non-GP referrers and providers, who onward refer after triage or convert an advice and guidance request to a referral, for example, now have the option to send emails to patients with referrals that:
- have a shortlist of services to choose from
- are waiting to be triaged by the providing organisation or service (referral assessment service)
- are waiting for an appointment to be booked by the providing organisation or service (i.e received on their ASI worklist)
- have been booked
Find out more about the changes, and which patients are able to receive email communications.
2. Specialty and clinic type changes
Stroke Medicine Service specialty
This new speciality contains the following clinic types:
- Stroke (not TIA)
- Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
Review more details more details about this change and the suggested actions for this new specialty.
Bariatric Surgery clinic type
A new clinic type of 'Bariatric surgery' is available under the 'GI and Liver (Medicine and Surgery)' specialty.
Our users have fed back that this change will make referring into bariatric surgery services easier and will support patients get an early diagnosis and treatment.
3. Changes to allow providers to redirect booked accepted referrals - DNAs
Further to the change introduced in June 2023, which allowed providers to redirect an accepted referral without the need to cancel the referral and manage it outside the e-RS, this allows the action to also be taken on referrals where patients did not attend (DNA) their appointment.
4. e-RS non-supported web browser banner
From this release e-RS users access e-RS using older web browsers are presented with a banner on their e-RS screen.
Where this banner is displayed users will be advised to contact local IT teams.
Once the user’s web browser has been updated to a supported version, the banner will no longer appear.