The switch from choose and book to e-referral is causing delays and backlog due to the slow-running of the service, a Devon CCG said.
The Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG said that with up to 7,000 bookings a week to make, a backlog has started to form after just one week of the new system.
The switch from choose and book to e-referral is causing delays and backlog due to the slow-running of the service, a Devon CCG said.
The Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG said that with up to 7,000 bookings a week to make, a backlog has started to form after just one week of the new system.
According to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) there are still 33 known issues with the system, including problems reading data or instructions, loading referral letters and accessing data.
Karen Barry, who manages the service on behalf of the Devon referral support service (DRSS), said: “We have drafted in staff from other teams at the CCG to help us to work through the backlog.
“We are taking no chances and immediately put in place contingencies so that people who need a rapid referral, such as those patients with suspected cancer, continue to be seen within two weeks," she said.
Staff and managers had to work over the weekend to tackle the backlog and managers are working closely with acute hospital trusts and have local arrangements in place as part of contingency plans.
“All GP practices in Devon are helping us to manage this and we are keeping patients regularly updated with telephone messages. We are determined that this national IT problem will not affect local appointment times,” Karen said.
In response to these problems the HSCIC said last week: "During final testing we identified an issue that may affect those provider trusts with exceptionally large worklists. These worklists will be particularly slow to load the first time users select them, however, loading times should improve on subsequent attempts."
Read the HSCIC guidance here
