Health bosses in Oxfordshire have defended a controversial new GP referral system.
The Clinical Advice and Liaison Service (Cals) came under fire last week after a survey of GPs in Didcot and Wallingford revealed many thought the system had failed.
Cals was introduced in December, banning GPs from contacting hospital consultants directly.
Instead patient referrals are made to Cals where specialists and other GPs vet every case before passing it on.
PCTs spokesman Andrea Ansell said: "Cals has been set up to ensure the more efficient use of resources by enabling patients to be seen by the most appropriate healthcare professional."
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