From October patients who have waited for NHS treatment for 40 weeks or more will be given the chance to switch hospitals under plans outlined by the prime minister aimed at cutting waiting lists.
Earlier this week The Times reported patients will be offered the choice of booking treatment in private hospitals on the NHS app as part of a drive to reduce waiting lists.
Today the government confirmed plans saying a letter is being sent by NHS England to local areas requiring GPs to offer patients choice of provider when clinically appropriate.
In the latest data more than 7.3 million people were waiting treatment on the NHS in England, a record high which has been steadily increasing. The figure was at 4.4 million before the pandemic hit in 2020 which had grown from 2.4 million in January 2012.
Some progress has been made on the longest waits but already almost 360,000 people have been waiting for more than a year.
Overhaul NHS app and website
Under the plans after speaking with their GP, patients will be able to view information for up to five healthcare providers – filtered by distance, waiting times and quality of care – and will then be able to make a choice about where they go for treatment using the NHS app or website, based on their own circumstances.
The government said its plans will expand the way the NHS app and website are used to improve how patients choose to receive their care, while newly updated software and IT systems will also aim to make the process easier for GPs when referring patients for treatment.
And building on existing NHS ‘mutual aid’ arrangements between hospital trusts, the plans also mean from October, patients who have waited more than 40 weeks for an appointment but have not yet been given a treatment date, will be asked whether they want to switch hospitals, including one with a shorter wait, if possible and clinically appropriate.
The government added that as the NHS continues to make progress in tackling backlogs, this threshold could be cut over time, based on clinical advice, towards 18 weeks “as fast as possible”.
The plans are going to be supported by a new public awareness campaign to encourage patients to exercise their right to choose, while guidance has been provided to GP practices to support them to offer choice, with training available on using IT systems to make referrals.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “By giving patients greater choice and more information about their care through the convenience of the NHS app, we can change the way people access treatment options while also building on the fantastic work already being done by NHS staff across the country in bringing down the longest waits for care.
“Despite significant pressure, the NHS reduced 18 month waits for care by more than 90% by April and alongside existing tools like elective hubs, surgical robots and ‘prehab’ checks, this is another way that we are continuing to embrace the latest innovations and tech for the benefit of patients.”
Prime minister Rishi Sunak added: “Empowering patients to choose where they receive treatment will help cut waiting lists, one of my five key priorities.
“Currently, just one in ten patients make a choice about where they receive care. We want to change that by helping the NHS to offer patients a real choice while also giving patients the information they need to decide.
“Our aim is to create an NHS built around patients, where everyone has more control over the care they receive, wherever they live or whatever their health needs are.”