Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to outline the approved processes for the management of referrals into all CES Medical Ltd sites as well as highlighting the responsibilities of all staff, both clinical and administrative.    This policy sets out the key principles including standardisation of administrative pathways in relation to patient access to provide a consistent, equitable and fair approach to the management of patient referrals and treatment that meets the NHS requirements.

 
CES Medical aims to provide patients with a seamless service, assuring that all referrals are managed in the same way. 
This policy is to ensure that CES Medical have a robust process in place to ensure that patients, their relatives and carers are informed of their rights and what they can expect in terms of access to any CES Medical location. The document will outline the processes, responsibilities and actions by which we will manage patients through their pathways, specifically:

• The national 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) pathway
• The national 6-week guidance for diagnostic tests.

 
In accordance with the NHS Constitution everyone has the right to access certain services commissioned by NHS bodies within maximum waiting times, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer a range of suitable alternative providers if this is not possible. This includes a right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions.

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This policy sets out the way in which CES Medical will accept patients who are waiting for treatment or on treatment pathways. It covers the management of patients at all our locations.  CES Medical will adopt a fair, consistent and transparent approach to the management of patients. All communication with patients will be clear and informative and will be consistent.   Patients will be seen firstly according to clinical priority and then in chronological order based upon the 18-week RTT pathway.

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All patients are to be contacted within 72 hours of CES Medical receiving the referral and to complete a pre-operative assessment if applicable. This, along with any referral information provided will support our administrative team determining the clinical priority of a patient or any special requirements required.    This policy is intended to be used by all those individuals within CES Medical Ltd, who are responsible for managing referrals, adding to, and maintaining waiting lists for organising patient access to treatment. The principals of the policy apply to both medical and administrative waiting list management.