What are the referral criteria for specialty services that I should be aware of when training new healthcare professionals?

Referral criteria for specialty services when training new healthcare professionals include:

• Refer people to GPs or other healthcare providers for ongoing contraception, assessment for sleep apnoea (if local tools exist), support for high-risk alcohol consumption, drug misuse recovery, weight reduction services, and mental health support among others. Explain the reason for referral, the destination service, and what to expect, providing written information if available ¹.
• For tuberculosis (TB), urgent referral to TB clinics is recommended for people with suspected active TB, ensuring first-line diagnostic test results are available but not delaying referral. Multidisciplinary TB teams should accept referrals from healthcare providers, allied organisations, and self-referrals, and have pathways to triage and start investigations before specialist review ².
• For suspected cancer, refer people who meet criteria based on symptoms and risk factors promptly. Safety netting should be explained to those with low risk but ongoing concerns, including symptoms to watch for and when to return. Referral letters should include urgency status and all relevant information. Local arrangements should ensure timely assessment of referrals, follow-up of missed appointments, and support for patients while waiting ³.

Key points for referral practice: Ensure clear communication with the patient about referral reasons and process, use local referral proformas if available, review investigation results promptly, and consider discussion with specialists if uncertain about referral necessity ¹,²,³.