Candidate card · Medicine

You are the doctor

A referral rejected for missing information

Setting: A referral discussion

A specialist service returned a referral requesting more information. The GP can review the missing details and resubmit it.

Task

  • Explore the concern behind this opening: They rejected me, so does that mean my symptoms are not worth treating?
  • Clarify the patient perspective using an appropriate follow-up, such as: What did you understand the referral message to mean?
  • Explain the supplied information and its limits in manageable sections.
  • Explore practical barriers and agree a workable next step from the supplied options.
  • Check the patient understanding and identify any unresolved question.
A referral rejected for missing information supplied information
  • A specialist service returned a referral requesting more information. The GP can review the missing details and resubmit it.
  • The service has asked for information that was missing from the referral. That is a request to complete the referral, not a judgement about whether you deserve care.
  • I cannot promise acceptance or an appointment once it is resubmitted. The specialist team still needs to review the completed information.
  • We can identify the missing information together and record it clearly for the receiving team. I will explain why each question is needed before asking it.
  • The practice will resubmit the referral and use the contact route on the card to update you when the service responds.

Fictional scenario information supplied for exam communication practice only; not medical guidance for real patients.