Table 1.

Characteristics of referral management in each group

Group	Referral-management approach	Key interventions	Number of practices and registered population	Allocated budget; budget per registered patient (2011/2012)	Recruitment of first practice; length of follow-up
1	Internal peer review	Monthly peer review of selected referrals; use of guidelines; monthly feedback reports to referring GPs; pathway redesign evidence	2 practices; 33 837	£85 946; £2.54	April 2011; 12 months
2	Internal peer review	Monthly peer review of selected referrals; use of guidelines; monthly feedback reports to referring GPs; pathway redesign evidence	23 practices; 206 005	£113 303; £0.55a	June 2011; 9 months
3	Referral-management	Creation of referral database; clinical and centre non-clinical review of all referrals; use of guidelines; 6-monthly feedback reports to referring clinician; pathway redesign evidence; booking of secondary care patient appointments for practices	20 practices; 166 917	£1 039 892; £6.23	August 2010; 20 months
4	Referral-management	Creation of referral database; clinical and centre non-clinical review of all referrals; pathway redesign evidence; evidence-based education for GPs; bimonthly feedback reports to referring clinician	18 practices; 146 928	£900 670; £6.13	July 2010; 21 months
5	Referral-management	Creation of referral database; clinical and centre non-clinical review of referral to seven specialties; pathway redesign evidence; 6-monthly feedback reports to referring clinician; booking of secondary care patient appointments for practices	22 practices; 159 824	£514 634; £3.22	April 2011; 12 months

^aAllocated budget for 2010/2011.