Ability to redirect booked accepted referrals – NHS e-Referral Service

This change allows providers to redirect an accepted referral without the need to cancel the referral and manage it outside the system, allowing an audit trail to be kept in e-RS.

​The change has been applied to both future and existing referrals (excluding DNA referrals which is planned to be deployed in January 2024).

Where providers currently have a ‘Book Appointment’ option from the referral action drop down for a booked referral, this has been replaced with an ‘Update/Book’ option.

The options available after 'Update/Book' is selected, varies according to the status of the referral. For example:

1. The provider has accepted the directly booked referral, cancelled the appointment and now wishes to rebook​. The user is now presented with ability to change appointment date/time and will see a new  ‘Change Service’ option.

2. The provider has accepted the indirectly booked referral, has then cancelled the appointment and now wishes to rebook. The user is now presented with the ability to rebook into same service (Indirectly Book) or see the new ‘Change Service’ option.

3. The provider has redirected a directly or indirectly booked referral via the ‘Change Service’ option and now needs to change the service again. The user is now presented with the ability to book into the original shortlisted services and also to select other services (new option available ‘Service Selection’).

This change was delivered on 23 June.