Onwards Referral Policies

What does referral mean

Sharing with an information with and/or making arrangement for service users to be seen by another professional for investigation treatment or management of a symptom or condition that is outside your scope of practice or service to manage

Who is the referral guidance compromised for?

Services, professionals and clinicians who have to responsibility of providing care to adult Audiology patients aged 18 and older for a medical or other specialist opinion

if during an assessment any of the conditions below have become evident, then what should happen?

They should either be referred:

• Their GP

• A&E/ Emergency ENT

• Stroke Pathway (if applicable)

• ENT

• Audiovestibular Medicine

• Specialist audiology services

• MRI/ Radiology

• Cochlear Implant Centre

What happens if in some services is not possible for the audiologist to refer directly to the required service?

• A copy of the findings and the reasons for referral should be sent or given to the service user and their GP (with patient’s consent)

• Did she pay then? Refer on for specialist opinion and/or investigations Such as ENT or falls clinic

What should be done before proceeding with the referral?

&

What should the referral document consist of?

• The reason for a flower should be explained to the service user

• Informed consent should be obtained

&

• Name

• DOB

• NHS number

• Date of assessment

• Finding, signs and symptoms ( pre-existing or investigated medical conditions should be taken into account, if relevant)

• Audiograms

• Video otoscopy Images

If an onward referral has been made to a specialist opinion investigations or a referral was recommended but declined. What should you do?

• Appropriate informed consent obtained from the service user or significant career on the basis of sufficient information (including associated risks of not referring and proceeding with management options such as fitting hearing aids)

• Clearly documented for clinical evidence

• Service users GP must be informed about their decision

If some signs or symptoms listed in the referral criteria have not been dealt with previously, not satisfactory treated/ managed or is outside an audiologist scope of practice, is it still necessary to refer?

Yup

Would referrals delay treatment?

Referrals for medical conditions should not normally delay impression taking or hearing aids. Up to audiologist opinion whether it is safe to proceed with it.

When is referral not required?

1. Service user has already been referred by another professional for the investigation of the condition

2. The condition has been fully investigated by an appropriate qualified professional, treatment has been provided and the condition remains unchanged, since treatment/ management (make sure to document for clinical evidence)

3. The condition lies within audiologist scope of practice (training + experience to deal with condition)

4. Declined referral