A recent report suggests that hospitals in England should get smaller to help end the NHS’s ongoing “permacrisis” (The Guardian). The idea is simple: many services currently delivered in hospitals — routine diagnostics, follow-ups, and chronic-care management could be handled in primary care or community settings, reducing unnecessary admissions and freeing hospital capacity for complex cases.

This shift has major implications for referral patterns. GPs and community clinics will increasingly act as the first point of contact and care coordinator, deciding which patients truly need hospital-based care. That means efficient referral systems and tracking are critical to ensure patients don’t fall through the gaps, care is timely, and resources are optimised.

Why strong primary care and referral management matter

Transitioning care closer to home sounds great in theory, but it requires robust operational and digital infrastructure. Delays, miscommunication, or lack of oversight in referrals could risk patient safety or cause bottlenecks. That’s where PCMS Solutions plays a crucial role.

As a company working closely with primary care and community providers, we understand the challenges of managing increased referrals and integrated care pathways:

• Referral management & tracking — ensuring patients move efficiently from GP to diagnostics, specialist care, or rehab when needed.
• Triage & workflow optimisation — helping practices prioritise urgent cases while maintaining routine care.
• Outcome monitoring & compliance reporting — giving visibility into patient journeys and system performance.

By providing these tools, PCMS ensures that as hospitals shrink and community care expands, patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time, without overwhelming GPs or hospitals.

Benefits for patients and the system

• Faster access to care — patients can receive timely support in community clinics without unnecessary hospital visits.
• Reduced hospital strain — fewer admissions for cases that can be handled in primary care.
• Improved patient safety & continuity — clear referral tracking prevents delays or missed care.
• Data-driven decision making — clinics can analyse referral patterns, workload, and outcomes to optimise services.

The move toward smaller hospitals and stronger community care is not just about physical infrastructure — it’s about how patients are referred and cared for throughout the system. With robust referral management and workflow optimisation, primary care can be the backbone of a sustainable NHS.

At PCMS Solutions, we’re helping make that transition seamless ensuring referrals are safe, efficient, and patient-focused.