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An interesting piece of paper was passed across my desk recently from one of our long standing, trusted and excellent referring practitioners who incidentally works for a large dental organisation.

The organisation in question (let’s call them Barbara) has developed and external referral protocol apparently for all clinicians who wish to refer outside of the group (see photo)

It clearly states on the referral protocol that the document is to be completed for every referral outside of the group, the purpose of which is to protect Barbara and the patient from “any problems that could be avoided”

As luck would have it they do not require this form to be filled out for referral within the group as they hold all the relevant information.

Some of the information they require on the form is as follows:

• The name of the dentist being referred to including their GDC number!!

• Are they on the Specialist register for the procedure being referred for? (there is no Specialist register for implant dentistry)

• List the referral dentists qualifications and experience of the Specialist procedure (honestly who would have that to hand for a referral?!)

• Attach the protocols for the delivery of care at the referral dentist practice ??!!

• Provide proof that the lab being used by the referral dentist is DAMAS / ISO 9000 accredited. Really?!

• Provide documentation of the referral dentists indemnity insurance. This is truly outrageous

• Provide proof that the referral practice is CQC and HTM0105

Have we really reached a stage where large dental organisations can indirectly enforce internal referrals on their practitioners by making the procedures to refer outside of the group so onerous that they simply do not have the time or inclination to entertain it.

It’s my firm belief that the GDC should be interested in, what appears to be, a blatant attempt to curtail the referring habits of a large amount of Britain’s General Dental Practitioners.

Clearly the organisation ‘Barbara’ would suggest that their dentists are still free to refer outside the group as long as they fill in the onerous and time consuming form every time they wish to refer. My concern here is that if an individual principal acted in this way with his / her associates and it was reported to the GDC I believe they would be found to be potentially affecting the standard of patient care for financial benefit.

Please can we make sure it is possible that all rules apply to everybody all the time and that large organisations cannot slip under the radar because they are faceless.