Shaping Better Care in Barking & Dagenham: Share Your Referral Experience
Across England, demand for referrals from GPs to specialist and community services continues to rise. Recent national data shows over 20 million GP referrals took place between October 2024 and October 2025, with consultant-led referrals frequently exceeding one million per month. While referrals are a vital part of accessing care, many patients report challenges navigating the system. In fact, in 2025, around one in seven people (14%) experienced issues such as delayed, lost, rejected, or unsent referrals. These problems can lead to increased anxiety, reduced satisfaction, and, in some cases, negative impacts on health and well-being. Locally, residents in Barking & Dagenham have also shared concerns that referral processes can be complicated and unclear, sometimes affecting timely access to care.
About the Importance of this Project
This new project aims to capture the real experiences of local people to better understand how referral pathways are working—and where improvements are needed. There is currently no recent local study focused specifically on patient experiences of referrals in Barking & Dagenham. This project will help fill that gap.
Improving referral pathways is also a key priority across the NHS, particularly in relation to:
• Reducing waiting times
• Improving communication
• Expanding digital access
• Supporting more personalised care
Given the borough’s higher-than-average health inequalities, ensuring residents can easily navigate care is especially important.
Your voice matters. By sharing your experience, you can help shape how referral pathways work in Barking & Dagenham and improve access to care for your community. Share your feedback here.