In Focus: Variable referral and reply rates found in new research

A study into referrals made by community optometrists to the hospital eye service in England and Scotland has been conducted by researchers at City, University of London.

It assessed communication pathways against established standards and calculated referral rate and referral reply rate as a measure. It found variable standard of referrals and deficits in replies to community optometrists.

Lead researcher Rakhee Shah told Optician: ‘We were looking at referrals and whether referrals are being made to the appropriate professional, whether the referral was necessary and whether it was accurate. We were looking at different elements of it, but, ultimately, the overarching objective and focus was communication between primary and secondary care.’