How to use e-RS for commissioners

Access e-RS extracts and reports to analyse existing referral and advice request patterns using e-RS data to support targeted commissioning work. Review how to translate extracts.

You can also access the e-RS open data dashboard which provides a summary of e-RS data at Integrated Care Board and sub group level.

Request access to the e-RS providers dashboard (private version) which provides organisational and national data on referral and advice and guidance activity. The purpose of this dashboard is to support benchmarking and service improvements.

We have also provided a number of useful links to resources including: 

• the NHS England long term plan  
• the NHS England - NHS Standard Contract
• referral to treatment (RTT) reporting
• NHS England’s elective care and transformation programme 
• further detailed specialty specific guidance which is available through the Outpatient transformation FutureNHS workspace (a login is required for access)
• the advice and guidance toolkit for e-RS
• joint guidance for primary (section 16) and secondary care doctors

Commissioners should work with providers and referrers to optimise the use of e-RS to improve referral pathways and empower patients to obtain the best care – first time, every time - by: 

• keeping up to date with changes to e-RS
• considering to join the National training forum
• accessing e-RS training resources or contact the training team for additional support
• getting in contact with the NHS e-Referral Service enquiries team if you would like support to optimise the use of e-RS
• create an e-RS working group in your Integrated Care System area to work with providers and GP IT facilitators to respond to local pressures and support patients to get the right advice, care or treatment in a timely manner
• improving integration with existing clinical IT systems by using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
• reviewing the advice and guidance toolkit
• reviewing guidance on supporting alternative care pathways and guidance for independent sector providers 

Work with providers and referrers to optimise use of e-RS and improving patient experience and outcomes by: 

• accessing the suite of e-RS data dashboards and datasets developed to support planning and decision making
• working with secondary and community care providers to access Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for e-RS
• keeping updated on the e-RS strategic road map and the future of digital triage, appointments, and referrals

Ensure local referral management pathways utilise both NHS and Independent Sector Providers commissioned services to support patient choice. 

Discuss the benefits of e-RS capacity alerts functionality with regional NHS England colleagues as these can be used to further enhance patient choice and help utilise available capacity across the system. 

Set-up commissioning rules. Additional features include:

• the ability to commission a service at an individual referring organisation level
• the ability to copy commissioning rules from one commissioning organisation to another

Review lessons learnt and e-RS case studies to support referrers and providers improve outcomes for patients and develop new ways of working. Resources for referral optimisation are also published on FutureNHS Platform (a login is required for access) under the Outpatient Recovery & Transformation area.

Support patients to manage their referral online by accessing the e-RS Manage your Referral (MYR) website and the NHS App. Patients who have fully registered with the NHS App can go straight into the MYR website to view or manage any e-RS referrals, triage requests or bookings without the need for referral booking reference numbers or access codes.  This will allow patients to book an appointment at a convenient time to them and reduce the calls to practices to find out what is happening with their referral.