GP requests for pre-referral specialist advice, by type and outcome, January 2019 to August 2025
A line chart from the Institute for Government showing GP requests for pre-referral specialist advice, by type and outcome, January 2019 to August 2025, where requests for specialist guidance have risen sharply since 2019. Total pre-referral requests increased from around 140,000 in 2022 to over 300,000 in 2025, while requests for advice and guidance grew steadily until early 2023, when data collection for that series ended. The number of diverted referrals has also grown, from nearly 66,000 in 2022 to 130,000 in 2025.