REFERRER CODE

REFERRER CODE is the same as attribute CARE PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFIER.

REFERRER CODE is the code of the PERSON making the REFERRAL REQUEST. This will normally be a CARE PROFESSIONAL, GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER or CONSULTANT.

The intention is for this item to reflect the actual (true) referrer. For example, following a GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER referral, a CONSULTANT may subsequently refer the PATIENT to another CONSULTANT within the Hospital Provider Spell. The code of the CONSULTANT making the referral and the CONSULTANTS ORGANISATION should be recorded in the Commissioning Data Set (CDS) rather than the code of the GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER referrer. This also applies where a CONSULTANT refers an NHS PATIENT to another doctor for NHS-commissioned treatment at another NHS / non-NHS provider, or an overseas provider. Where the CONSULTANT CODE is not known, the Organisation Data Service Default Code C9999998 should be used.

In all other cases, the code of the referring GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER should be recorded, if applicable. When a locum refers, use the GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER PPD CODE of the GENERAL PRACTITIONER for whom the locum is acting.

See CONSULTANT CODE and GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER (SPECIFIED) for the codes available for CONSULTANTS and GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS and GENERAL DENTAL PRACTITIONERS.

If the REFERRER CODE is not known or not applicable e.g. the PATIENT has self-presented, the Organisation Data Service Default Code (X9999998) should be used.