Referral and handover
A useful referral states the question, urgency, site, history, findings, imaging and relevant risks. Safety-net when results or appointments are pending.
Understand
Referral is a clinical handover: a clear question, relevant chronology, examination, investigations, risk factors and requested urgency. A vague referral can delay care.
Assess
Include lesion site and size, dates, imaging availability, medical factors and what has already been tried. Use the appropriate urgent pathway for suspected malignancy or severe infection.
Apply
Tell the patient what to expect and who owns pending results. Track urgent referrals and safety-net if an appointment or report has not arrived.
Key distinctions
A referral should distinguish an established diagnosis from a suspicion, include relevant negative findings and attach images or reports when available. Explain to the patient whether the referral is for diagnosis, treatment, advice or monitoring. Document a mechanism to act on pathology and imaging results; “referred” does not remove the originating clinician's safety-net responsibility.
Think through a case
An urgent lesion referral is sent, but the patient receives no appointment. The originating team must have a way to notice and chase this rather than assuming handover ended with sending.
The distinction to remember
Do not omit the actual question and urgency from a referral; a stack of attached notes is not a substitute for a clear clinical summary.
Test your recall
What makes a referral's urgency clear?
Show answer
The concern, relevant red flags and requested timeframe.