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CCGs are formulating plans to scrutinise practices' referral systems after a leaked NHS England memo showed they have promised to incentivise peer review schemes in order to reduce referrals by 30%, Pulse has learnt.

Pulse has learnt that NHS England wrote to CCGs in May, asking them to ensure that there is ‘clinical peer review of all referrals from general practice by September 2017’, and this should be done on a weekly basis.

The May 2017 guidance ‘Elective Care High Impact Interventions: Clinical Peer Review’ says that there will be 'significant additional funding' for commissioners to establish GP peer review schemes this year.

Pulse has seen an email from NHS Bedfordshire CCG to commissioners on plans to scrutinise GPs' referral schemes.