tertiary referral
tertiary referral
The referral of a patient by an NHS consultant in one trust—usually a district general hospital—which provides secondary care to a colleague in another trust outside of the local care contract, for the evaluation or provision of highly specialised tertiary services.For example, a tertiary referral would occur when an orthopaedic surgeon refers a patient who already had a hip replaced for a second replacement on the same side, as such is always a more complicated procedure due to various factors—e.g., due to advancing osteoporosis and reduction in supporting tissue.