Frequently asked questions

What is RefGuide?

RefGuide provides key service and condition-specific referral information for NHS Tayside services. Achieved by consensus to provide clear, point of need information to support high-quality referrals.

Who is RefGuide for?

RefGuide is primarily a resource for Clinicians:

• Primary Care referrers, to help them navigate the huge array of services and support them in making high-quality referrals to those services.
• Specialists and Services, to help them provide consensus guidance and directions to help Primary Care referrers make the best use of their service.

Why do we need a RefGuide?

To achieve consensus and to provide clear, point of need information to support high-quality referral. 

What type of information can I find on RefGuide?

An overview of how to access the services available, as well as concise referral guidance for common referral areas. You will be signposted to relevant national and/or guidelines and useful resources. 

Where does the content come from?

Each specialty is asked to liaise with colleagues, to achieve departmental consensus and then work with GP Referral Advisors to provide consensus content. Once consensus is agreed it will be sent to be approved by the appropriate governing body.

How is the information agreed?

All 'referral pathway' clinical content impacting General Practitioners is approved by the GP Subcommittee and all other referral guidance is approved by the appropriate governing body before getting added to the site.

How will I know when new content is added?

Content is evolving all the time. You will be directed to content via newsletters or perhaps by services. The point is for the information to be available at point of need. You can navigate via the main menu or use the search box. Keywords and tags have been added to help you use the search facility to find any content you can't easily see from the main specialty menu. 

Is the site intended for use by the public?

The site is primarily meant for use by clinicians. Clinicians may wish to direct members of the public to the many patient resources linked to on the site. 

As a service how should I use the RefGuide content?

You may wish to direct primary care referrers to the RefGuide content in correspondence. This can be helpful in directing the primary care referrers towards the agreed referral information, resources or reminders. 

Why should we use RefGuide as a service? 

RefGuide is NHS Tayside's agreed definitive resource for posting referral information. It is supported by appropriate governance to ensure content is approved and maintained.