Patients In England Who Are Waiting Months Could Travel For Treatment

BBC News reports that patients who have been waiting over 40 weeks for treatment in England will be given the option to be seen in another part of the country.

Statistically, 400,000 people will be contacted in the next few weeks and will be asked whether they would be willing to travel elsewhere and how far.

Currently, patients already have the right to ask for treatment elsewhere. However, NHS England believes that by actually getting in touch with the longest waiters, they will help unlock some of the worst bottlenecks on the waiting list.

This will only apply to patients who do not already have an appointment scheduled within the next eight weeks and they will receive this offer by text, letter, or email. If a patient is willing to travel, the medical treatment can be either through the NHS or private sector hospital.

It is important to note that families and individuals on low incomes will have the right to some financial support to be able to travel to their appointments. Local funding will be utilised for those who may struggle to travel, including the elderly and disabled, to access carer or escort support, travel costs, and in some circumstances even accommodation costs.

Patients will keep their place on the waiting list at their local hospital whilst alternative treatment locations are explored. The 400,000 people to be contacted in the coming weeks signifies an estimated 5% of the total number currently waiting for treatment.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS England Chief Executive, said it was “absolutely right” to make the most of available capacity across England to reduce backlogs.

Some hospitals would be able to treat patients three times faster than others for common orthopaedic procedures such as knee and hip operations.

Steve Barclay, Health Secretary commented that giving people the choice would help “tackle waiting lists and improve access to care.”

Louise Ansari, of the patient watchdog Healthwatch England, has welcomed the move, explaining that long waits are having a damaging experience on not only the physical health of people but also their mental health and that many patients find themselves just waiting for communication, let alone information about treatment. Louise has emphasised it does need to be backed by additional financial support.

Louise also said:

A recent example of this situation can be seen in the case of former BBC Technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones, who has Parkinson’s disease and experienced difficulty accessing NHS treatment following a fall and resulting elbow fracture. Rory experienced just how difficult it can be to get answers from the NHS.

Deputy Chief Executive of NHS providers, Saffron Cordery argues that the long waiting lists are because of staff shortages and underinvestment of the NHS.

Comment

This NHS initiative is a positive step towards reducing a significant backlog of patients waiting for treatment. These are backlogs that are attributable to many factors including the pandemic, industrial action, and ongoing staff shortages across the country.

Whilst it may be less than ideal for many, particularly for those with serious or debilitating health conditions, it is evident that a large proportion of patients would be willing to travel wherever necessary if it means they can finally get access to the medical treatment they need.

Rory Cellan-Jones’ story is just one example of how long waiting lists can have such a substantial “knock-on” effect, both physically and mentally, on patients who already have serious health conditions. In Rory’s case, whilst his Parkinson’s did not cause his fall, his symptoms were exacerbated by the pain and discomfort stemming from his arm and led to fear that this would contribute to a decline in his condition.

It is hoped that this will also improve access to care for those with complex clinical conditions unable to travel for medical treatment. Much of its success will likely depend on sufficient funding, careful planning, and arguably most importantly, prompt and accurate communication not only with patients but between the Trusts or healthcare providers handing over information to one another.

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