Self referral in the UK

Wales

For reference to self referral, see 'An Orthopaedic Plan for Wales' from NHS Wales (832Kb PDF file), published in 2004.

Scotland

The highly successful self referral scheme run in Scotland won a Health Service Journal award for improving patient access.

For policy context, the following publications are relevant

• Joint Effects 2005 (326Kb PDF file) which reports on Allied Health Professions strategic direction, commissioned by the Scottish Executive Health Department
• Delivering for Health published by NHS in 2005
• Scottish physiotherapists delivering for health published by CSP in 2006.
  

Northern Ireland

There are major reforms of Health and Social care taking place in Northern Ireland at the moment. The emphasis is on restructuring and commissioning arrangements. This will obviously have an impact on any changes to service re-design such as self referral, but currently there are no plans to introduce it