£20 scheme boosts GP advice requests by 23%, but fails to cut waiting lists

By Daniel Pye

Requests from general practice for pre-referral specialist advice have increased by nearly a quarter (23%) since the new £20 payment scheme was introduced – however, waiting lists have remained largely unchanged.

Since April, GP practices have received £20 for each pre-referral Advice and Guidance (A&G) request, paid for from an £80 million funding pot.