The RACGP has hit out at the introduction of GP referral criteria in Victoria, saying their real purpose is to knock back patients in a bid to “artificially” cut outpatient waiting times.

Under statewide rules starting next month, Victorian public hospitals will judge all new adult referrals for three specialties against core criteria, promising to reject GP referrals that fail to include “essential information”.

The Health Victoria project, which will be rolled out to a further eight specialties next year, has outraged local GPs, and now the college has waded in.

RACGP president Dr Harry Nespolon said only a small percentage of GPs provided referrals that were not up to scratch and the department was aware of that.