Research into understanding patients' experience of referrals

In light of evidence that doctors are becoming more likely to refer patients on due to, a) an increase in 'defensive practice' and b) workload pressures, we believe it is timely to try to better understand the patient experience of referrals and, therefore, what impact an increase in tactical referrals is likely to have.

Research question 1 - Is there a typical patient experience of referrals? If not, what do the range of experiences look like? E.g. including patients with multiple conditions/comorbidities

Research question 2 - To what extent do patients who have been referred several times for an issue deem that their referrals were necessary?

Research question 3 - What is the impact of being referred, particularly if the patient has already been referred many times for a single condition?

Research question 4 - What are patients' views on referral more generally, including their awareness and understanding of unnecessary referrals or those resulting from defensive practice?

Research question 5 - What is the impact of multiple referrals on groups who are more likely to be adversely affected, e.g. disabled or elderly people?