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Aim:  To analyse the detection rate of oral cancer from referrals to our department and if our department policy of triaging referrals was appropriate. Material and methods:  The authors reviewed all oral cancer referrals and urgent oral lesion referrals to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Peterborough and Stamford National Health Service Foundation Trust Hospitals during 2006. Results:  Sixty‐three patients were referred in 2006 for lesions that consultant triage suspected may be malignant or referred to be seen urgently. Thirty‐three patients were referred by general practitioners and all were subsequently seen within the 2‐week rule. Consultant triage of referral letters allocated a further 17 to been seen under the 2‐week rule timescale. An additional 13 urgent referrals were classified as not meeting the 2‐week rule criteria by the consultant that graded the letter but to be seen within 4 weeks. Conclusion:  Our study shows that with consultant triaging of referral letters, a malignancy detection rate of 24% can be achieved.