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Audit, analyse and learn - optimising the use of e-RS for providers

Utilisation of resources, reviewing of pathways and lessons learnt, sharing findings and ensuring governance awareness to optimise the use of the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS).
 

Application reports and extracts

Extracts and reports are intended to be used to support local service reports and referral pathway reviews. We have also included case studies covering lessons learned and personal experiences providing an insight into the implementation, benefits and use of the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) across primary and secondary care.

Application reports and extracts are located on the reports section of the e-RS system application and can be accessed by users with the Information Analyst role on their smartcards.

Extracts are data files that can be can be downloaded from e-RS. After being downloaded, extracts can be unzipped and imported into data analysis software.

The NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) open data dashboard is a summary of the information of anonymous e-RS data for referrals, bookings and appointment slot issues (ASIs) by specialty at Integrated Care Board (ICB) - sub group level.

The 180 day Drop Off  (EBSX12) (N3/HSCN connection required to access this link) is an extract of all referrals, from the previous reporting week, that have dropped off the appointment slot issue and appointment for booking worklists, after 180 days of no activity. Providers should:

  • utilise the weekly worklist drop-off extract (EBSX12) to ensure all referrals are being managed
  • use the data within e-RS to analyse referral patterns and review data for targeted commissioning work
  • undertake and review quality assurance analysis, by using the reports and extracts

Review the Data Quality Good Practice Guide (November 2021).


Regularly review referral pathways

Understand your outpatient demand, and also the variation in demand, for your specialty / current service. Review the outpatient capacity and demand tool


Review lessons learnt and share findings

Covering lessons learned and personal experiences, the e-RS case studies provide an insight into the implementation, benefits and use of e-RS across primary and secondary care.

Case studies are also published on NHS Futures Platform: Outpatient Recovery & Transformation Platform. Please note that a login is required for the NHS Futures Platform (the platform is open to anyone working in or for health and social care). If you are having trouble registering or the NHS Futures Platform please refer to the support page for more information.


Governance

Data quality good practice: have a clear, concise organisation-wide data quality policy or strategy so that all staff understand data security and information governance, its contents and the part they play in Implementing it.

Last edited: 13 June 2023 3:58 pm