Full bibliography

Study topic:
Evaluation of the implementation and impact of Haematology pathways within the Aneurin Bevan Community HealthPathways platform.

Study type:
Case study with referral audit

Key findings:

• Referrals that explicitly followed HealthPathways guidance were significantly more likely to result in appropriate outpatient appointments (83%) compared to those that did not (37%), indicating improved referral quality.
• Referrals referencing HealthPathways reduced the need for secondary care advice letters, streamlining communication and care coordination.
• The audit highlighted opportunities to redefine the primary–secondary care interface and reduce unwarranted variation, with notable differences in referral rates across practices.
• Pathways helped clarify common referral errors, such as inappropriate haematology referrals for iron deficiency anaemia or raised antibodies without paraprotein, improving triage efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Clinicians valued having concise, locally agreed guidance in one place, reducing time spent searching for variable-quality online resources.
• Benefits included standardisation of care across Gwent, improved accessibility of clinical advice, and faster patient care through direct clinic bookings.
• Challenges remain around GP awareness and time constraints; efforts are underway to improve usability and integration into clinical workflows.