The Introduction of our new Electronic Referral System (e-RS)

One of the steps towards digitising the NHS is introducing a new Electronic Referral System (e-RS), which will mean for you as a patient that any referral that your GP makes for a consultant led appointment will now be done electronically.

The video above outlines the changes to our processes and the benefits that the system will have for our patients. Please take a look and if you have any further questions please contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What is e-RS

e-RS is an electronic referral system. Nationally, there is a programme of work being carried out across the NHS to ensure all patient referrals are only sent electronically and traditional paper referral via letter are no longer used.

Benefits to you our patient

There are significant benefits to improving patient experience with this new electronic system. It gives patients as much choice as possible and where practicable, empowering patients to make the booking themselves. These include:

• Improves patient convenience. e-RS allows them to plan their visit for a time that best suits their family and work life.
• There is significant evidence that patients who are empowered to choose their own appointment are far more likely to attend their clinic slot.
• Similarly, where patients have greater choice, there is a reduction in re-arranged appointments.
• By going paperless, we cannot lose or misplace letters and e-RS provides an electronic trail of records that can be easily traced.
• And, by removing paper referrals we can speed up appointment confirmation for patients at the click of a button.

Key Dates

Key Dates of importance are as follows: