Over 17,000 people have been directed to the most appropriate advice and care and avoided being added to an NHS waiting list following the launch of the ‘Advice and Guidance’ scheme earlier this year.

The ‘Advice and Guidance’ scheme allows GPs to swiftly contact hospital specialists for expert guidance on patient cases. This stops patients joining hospital waiting lists unnecessarily and enables them to be redirected to appropriate treatment in the community.

Under the scheme, GPs can contact hospital specialists electronically for clinical advice about patients, speeding up possible referrals.

New data shows that in April 2025, 35,000 specialist advice requests were processed in the South East, of which over 17,000 resulted in diversions away from the elective waiting list, meaning patients avoiding unnecessary waits and being directed elsewhere for care or advice on how to manage their condition.

This is a 5% increase on the number of processed requests seen in April 2024 and a 2% increase on the number of diversions.

Oxford University Hospital Trust’s Rheumatology department has transformed its Advice and Guidance process by introducing a streamlined digital system using Microsoft Forms. Led by the Rheumatology Clinical Lead, the team developed a centralised platform to manage specialist responses to primary care queries, improving consistency, speed, and coordination across services.

Approximately 80% of Advice and Guidance requests are sent back to the GP without the need for a referral, meaning less people being added to the waiting list when not necessary.

With the number of requests coming from GPs and rising month-on-month, the model is delivering faster, more targeted support and has received positive feedback from primary care.

Dr Tim Caroe, Director of Primary Care Transformation for the NHS in the South East, said:

“The Advice and Guidance programme is a great example of how smarter working between primary and secondary care can deliver real benefits for patients. By enabling GPs to access specialist input quickly, we’re helping thousands of people avoid unnecessary waits and receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

“This is exactly the kind of innovation that supports our wider transformation goals and makes the NHS more responsive and efficient for the communities we serve.”

The Advice and Guidance programme forms part of the government’s Plan for Change, which sets out how mission-led government will get patients seen quicker and make the NHS fit for the future.