A scoping review protocol of existing literature on centralised access to healthcare services

Introduction: Centralised access to youth mental health services has the potential to improve the provision of efficient and timely access to appropriate services for young people experiencing mental health difficulties. Currently there is a gap in the literature regarding the evidence in relation to how centralised access systems are used, their effectiveness and how they are received. This protocol outlines a scoping review to identify the existing evidence and practical learning internationally in terms of systems for centralised access to healthcare services. Methods: This scoping review will be conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology. The search will be conducted through key electronic databases (PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)), as well as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for unpublished/grey literature sources. Two reviewers will independently screen all titles, abstracts and full-texts for inclusion. We will include any source of evidence which focuses on centralised access to healthcare services that include some capacity for referral, assessment or clinical decision-making between 2010 and 2022. Key information will be categorised and classified using a data extraction and charting tool. Data will be analysed and reported in accordance with the PAGER framework. Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to centralised access to healthcare.