NHS England has commissioned an external review of its Advice and Guidance scheme, following a report from the national patient safety watchdog that identified multiple failings with the system.
The British Medical Journal posted news of the review on 4 February 2026, reporting that NHS England has called in outside scrutiny of the Advice and Guidance scheme — a system that allows GPs to seek specialist input without formally referring a patient to hospital. The move follows a report published in August by the national patient safety watchdog, which found multiple failings in how the scheme operates.
Advice and Guidance (A&G) was introduced to reduce unnecessary outpatient referrals by letting GPs consult with hospital specialists digitally, in theory speeding up care and easing pressure on waiting lists. But the August watchdog report raised serious concerns about whether the scheme is working safely in practice.
No further detail about the scope or timeline of the external review has been confirmed at this stage.
Patients who are concerned about a referral decision or feel their condition is not being assessed properly should contact their GP surgery in the first instance. Anyone with an urgent health concern can call NHS 111.
Source: @bmj_latest
NHS England Orders Review of Advice and Guidance Scheme After Safety Watchdog Raises Concerns Quiz
5 questions