Patients given more choice to cut waiting times

The government has announced that patients will be given more choice to decide where they receive NHS care in plans to reduce waiting times.
GPs will provide referrals to up to five different healthcare providers, with patients then using the NHS App or website to set preferences, filter by location, waiting times and quality of care to make their choice.

The plan is being introduced to help reduce hospital waiting times, which is one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s five priorities.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Every patient should be able to easily choose where they go to receive treatment and today’s package will put that power in their hands.
“Millions of people downloaded the NHS App during the pandemic. Increasing use of this fantastic resource will enable them to exercise more choice and get access to essential information about the options for their care including journey time, length of wait and quality of service – all at the swipe of a smartphone screen.
“This will not only give patients more control over their own care but could also wipe months off their wait by finding a hospital or clinic with a shorter waiting list.”

Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, said: “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.”

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: “Work we’ve done shows patients’ awareness of choice is not high, nor are many offered choice regularly. Earlier this year, our survey of patients’ experience of healthcare found around only one in six patients we questioned had been given the opportunity to choose where they had their hospital care.
“We hope the planned communications campaign will clearly explain choice and encourage people to exercise it. We welcome news of the support general practice is to get, but with the current pressures on general practice, it will be important they are supported to work in partnership with their patients to increase uptake of patient choice.”

In response to the announcement, Miriam Deakin, Director of Policy and Strategy at NHS Providers said: “We must remember though that improving patient choice is not a panacea for the wider challenges facing the NHS as it tackles record waiting lists…Some patients will welcome more choice over where they receive their care, but we know others will want to be treated at a site closer to home as quickly as possible.”