Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the guidance issued by NHS England to clinical commissioning groups in May stating that all areas of the country should have a system in place from September to ensure that all new GP referrals are subject to clinical peer review, how they define such reviews.

Clinical peer reviews are a simple way for general practitioners (GPs) to support each other and help patients get the best care, from the right person at the right time, without having to make unnecessary trips to hospital. More than half of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have already implemented some form of clinical peer review system and the NHS England guidance will help ensure best practice is shared to the remaining local commissioners.

There is flexibility in how local CCGs and their GPs implement prospective internal clinical peer review, but it should see GPs reviewing each other’s new referrals to provide constructive feedback in a safe learning environment. Delivering prospective internal peer review will help ensure that all patients get access to the optimum care pathway. It should not be established as an approval process and the referring GP retains responsibility for the patient and makes the final decision.