Referral Management > Uncategorised Referrals

Location in SystemView: Explore > Outpatients > Uncategorised Referrals

In this article:

• What it is
• Why it matters
• How to use it
• How it works
• How it helps you
• Best practices
• FAQs

What it is

The Uncategorised Referrals component shows referrals that have not yet been assigned a clinical category. It groups these referrals by how long they have been waiting and highlights those approaching or exceeding expected timeframes.

This component supports monitoring of referral processing performance and helps identify backlogs across specialties and services.

Why it matters

Delays in categorising referrals can impact timely access to care.

Uncategorised referrals represent patients who have entered the system but are not yet clinically prioritised. Monitoring these delays helps teams maintain timely triage processes and reduce downstream waiting list pressure.

• Identify referrals that are at risk of delay or already outside expected timeframes

• Highlight specialties or services with the largest categorisation backlog

• Monitor distribution of wait times to understand pressure points

• Support timely referral processing and improved patient flow through outpatient services

How to use it

Filter to focus your view

Use the filter bar to refine which referrals are displayed:

• Health Region: Filter by region or network

• Hospital: Focus on a specific facility

• Specialty: View referrals for a selected outpatient specialty

• Wait Days Group: Segment referrals by wait time:

  • 4 days or less

  • At Risk (5–6 days)

  • Breached (7 days or more)

• Referral Status: Filter by stage in the categorisation or triage process

Explore uncategorised referral delays

How it works

SystemView retrieves referral data from the source system and identifies those that have not yet been assigned a clinical category.

Referrals are grouped based on the number of days since receipt:

• 4 days or less

• 5–6 days (at risk)

• 7 days or more (breached)

The component updates after each data refresh cycle and reflects the current state of uncategorised referrals at the time of the last update.

Selecting elements within charts dynamically filters the rest of the component, allowing users to move from a high-level overview to specialty-level detail.

How it helps you

• Monitor referral processing performance: Track how quickly referrals are being categorised across services

• Identify emerging backlogs: Detect increases in at-risk or breached referrals early

• Focus on high-pressure specialties: Understand where delays are concentrated

• Support operational oversight: Provide visibility for managing outpatient intake and triage workflows

• Enable proactive follow-up: Highlight referrals requiring attention before delays increase

Best practices

How often should I use it?

Pair with these components

• 🔗 Waiting List > Trends: Compare uncategorised referral delays with overall waiting list performance and long waits

• 🔗 Waiting List > Patient List: Drill down to patient-level detail for follow-up and validation

Tips for success

• Focus on the at risk and breached groups to prioritise action

• Use the specialty breakdown to target areas with the greatest delays

• Apply filters to isolate specific facilities or services before drawing conclusions

• Combine with patient-level views to support follow-up and data validation

• Be aware that categorisation timing reflects source system processes and data quality

FAQs

Q. Why are there a high number of uncategorised referrals?
A. This typically reflects delays in the categorisation or triage process within the source system. SystemView displays the current state of referrals as recorded, without modifying or reclassifying them.

Q. What does “breached” mean in this component?
A. Breached refers to referrals that have not been categorised within 7 days of receipt. This threshold may reflect local expectations for timely triage.

Q. Can I see referrals outside the top 20 specialties?
A. Yes. Use the Specialty filter in the filter bar to view any specialty, even if it is not shown in the Top 20 chart.