The Open Referral Network
Giving patients the confidence to choose their consultants.
What is the Bupa Open Referral Network?
The Open Referral Network puts choice in patients' hands.
In an open referral a patient s GP will decide the speciality of the consultant that a patient needs to see rather referring them to a specific consultant. Some of our policies and schemes are based on this referral pathway. Using information from the GP, we'll offer patients a choice of up to three consultants or therapists with the appropriate medical expertise.
Consultants who treat patients with open referral policies need to meet our criteria covering:
- Cost of care
- Clinical practice
- Patient experience
What are the benefits to consultants?
When you join the Open Referral Network, you'll enjoy these benefits:
Wider access to Bupa patients
A third of Bupa patients have open referral policies or schemes. This means that they need to see consultants who are members of our Open Referral Network. Being in the network gives you access to these patients.
Greater promotion on Finder
Members of the Open Referral Network have a badge on their profile on our online directory, Finder, so they can be found more easily.
A step towards being a Platinum consultant
By being a member of the Open Referral Network, you'll be closer to becoming a Bupa Platinum consultant. Platinum Consultants appear at the top of Finder's search results, making you easier to find.
What are the benefits to Bupa patients?
When you join the Open Referral Network, patients experience more benefits too.
Patient satisfaction
Nine out of ten open referral patients rated their consultant as excellent or good . You'll be joining a network of consultants who are amongst the top rated in our directory.
Greater reassurance
When patients see consultants in the Open Referral Network, they can be reassured that they'll receive high quality, good value care.
How do I become an Open Referral Network consultant?
To become an Open Referral Network consultant you need to meet the following criteria:
Care costs in line with peers
The total cost of care for your Bupa patients needs to align with the majority of your peers with a similar case mix.
Total cost of care includes:
- Consultations
- Tests
- Hospital services
- Care provided by other healthcare professionals
Have no or few patient complaints
Open Referral consultants need to have no or few patient complaints, in line with the majority of other Bupa recognised consultants. This helps us maintain a good patient experience.
Open Referral Network consultants also need to meet criteria specific to their speciality:
Following guidelines for conditions you treat
As an Open Referral Network consultant, you need to practise in line with guidance for the conditions you treat. For example, guidelines published by:
- your professional body
- the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)*
- Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT)
Practising in line with your peers
As an Open Referral Network consultant, you need to be in line with your peers in the same specialty for these rates:
- Surgical intervention
- Repeat procedures
- Average length of stay
Consultation ratio in line with your peers
The ratio of consultations for your Bupa patients compared to the number of Bupa patients you treat needs to be in line with your peers.
This is adjusted for patients’ age and complexity of procedures.
* Where we use criteria developed in the NHS (such as NICE guidance) we risk adjust for case mix because NHS hospitals are more easily comparable due to their more standard case mix, unlike private hospitals where there could be wide variation.
How do I join the Open Referral Network?
You'll automatically be added to the Network if you meet our criteria. We'll also write to you and let you know.
We use peer-group, risk-adjusted comparisons with other Bupa recognised consultants in the same speciality and sub-specialty to see whether you can join the Network.
We get this information from:
- Your invoices and those of your peers
- Hospitals and clinics providing treatment and care to Bupa patients
This method gives us high level information about consultants Bupa practices. Invoices may not include details like whether you provide specialist treatment or accept tertiary referrals. That's why we'll always get in touch.
We work with over 20,000 consultants across the UK, so we review one speciality at a time, about every two years.
Our method for choosing Open Referral Network consultants has been independently verified to make sure it is rigorous and fair.
Looking for more information?
If you have any queries about the Open Referral Network you can email us. Alternatively, find out what other consultants benefits we offer.
Email us
We're here to help if you've any questions. We aim to answer all emails as quickly as possible.
Email us at: [email protected]
Bupa Platinum consultants
Learn about the benefits of becoming a Bupa Platinum consultant.
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