A patient has a pressure ulcer that needs specialist input. What is the appropriate action?

Refer to the tissue viability service with clear, relevant information

Wait and see if it heals on its own

Refer to any service to be safe

Manage it alone regardless of its severity

What should a referral contain to be effective?

The reason, relevant history and findings, and how urgent it is

Unrelated information to be thorough

After sending an urgent referral for a vulnerable patient, what is good practice?

Follow it up to confirm it was received and is being actioned

Assume it will be dealt with and forget it

Leave the patient to chase it themselves

Why does poor coordination between services cause harm?

Patients can fall through gaps, with needs missed or care duplicated

Throughout a referral and coordination process, what should happen with the patient?

They are left out to avoid confusing them

They are only told at the very end

They are given no information at all

Part B7 of 8 Coordinating Care Chapter 71 of 75

Referrals and Care Coordination Questions

NMC CBT referrals practice: referring to the right service, clear information, following up, avoiding gaps, and worked scenario answers.

Start reading ← Question bank outline ~5 min read

By JobLabs Editorial · UK healthcare reference editorial team

· July 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 17, 2026 · 2 min read

A patient’s care usually involves many services, and someone has to make sure they work together. The CBT tests whether you can refer appropriately and coordinate care so that nothing, and no one, is missed.

Refer to the right service

A good referral goes to the right service at the right time. A pressure ulcer needing specialist input goes to tissue viability; a swallowing problem to speech and language therapy; a discharge need to social care. Recognising which service fits the need, rather than waiting to see if a problem resolves, referring randomly, or struggling alone with something beyond your scope, is the first part of coordination.

Give them what they need

The referral has to carry enough information to be acted on: who the patient is, the reason for referral, relevant history and findings, and how urgent it is. A referral with just a name, or minimal detail, risks delay or being deprioritised. Padding it with irrelevant information is no better. Clear, relevant, complete: that is what lets the receiving service respond well.

Close the loop

A referral sent is not the same as a referral received and actioned. Coordinating care means keeping some responsibility for following it up, confirming it arrived and is being dealt with, especially for vulnerable patients who cannot chase it themselves. Assuming it is handled, or leaving a vulnerable person to chase their own referral, is exactly how people fall through the gaps.

Coordination protects patients

The reason all this matters is safety. When services do not communicate, patients fall between them, with needs missed or care duplicated. Good coordination, with clear communication, prevents that, and it is a patient safety issue, not mere administration. And through it all, the patient is kept informed about what is happening and what to expect, which respects them and helps them engage, rather than being left in the dark until the end. Next: transitions of care. Five referral scenarios first.

Sources & further reading

Key takeaway from Referrals and Care Coordination Questions

Frequently asked questions

What information should a referral include?

Enough for the receiving service to understand the need and act: who the patient is, the reason for referral, relevant history and findings, and how urgent it is. A vague or incomplete referral can lead to delays, gaps or the patient being missed.

Whose job is it to make sure a referral is acted on?

The referrer keeps some responsibility for following it up, rather than assuming a referral sent is a referral received and actioned. Coordinating care means checking the loop is closed, especially for vulnerable patients who cannot chase it themselves.

What is care coordination?

Making sure the different services and professionals involved in someone's care work together without gaps or duplication, with clear communication. Good coordination keeps a patient from falling between services and keeps them informed about what happens next.

Check your understanding

Quick quiz: Referrals and Care Coordination Questions

5questions. Click an answer to see the explanation. Your score is saved on this device only.

1
A patient has a pressure ulcer that needs specialist input. What is the appropriate action?
Referring to the right service, tissue viability for a pressure ulcer needing specialist input, with clear relevant information, gets the patient the expertise they need. Waiting, referring randomly, or struggling alone with something beyond your scope all risk poorer care.
2
What should a referral contain to be effective?
An effective referral gives the receiving service what it needs to understand and act: the reason, relevant history and findings, and the urgency. A name alone, minimal detail, or irrelevant padding all risk delay, gaps, or the referral being deprioritised.
3
After sending an urgent referral for a vulnerable patient, what is good practice?
Coordinating care means following up to confirm the referral was received and is being acted on, especially for vulnerable patients who cannot chase it. Assuming it is handled, spamming duplicates, or leaving a vulnerable person to chase it all risk them falling through a gap.
4
Why does poor coordination between services cause harm?
When services do not communicate, patients fall through the gaps between them, with needs missed or work duplicated. Coordination, with clear communication, prevents this. It directly affects patient safety and experience, not just administration.
5
Throughout a referral and coordination process, what should happen with the patient?
Keeping the patient informed about referrals and next steps respects them and helps them engage with their care. Leaving them out, or telling them nothing until the end, causes anxiety and can mean missed appointments or misunderstandings.