New figures show NHS waiting times could be reduced by doing this one thing
NHS rules give patients the right to be treated at any hospital that meets their needs. However, GPs refer them locally.
New figures show NHS waiting times could be reduced by this one thing. (Image courtesy: iStock)
A new analysis has shown that doctors the nhs Delays are made worse by not sending patients to quieter hospitals. Patients should be told if they can get treatment quicker elsewhere, according to ministers. Research by the Independent Healthcare Provider Network shows millions of people could reduce their waiting times by just driving a little further.
If they travelled the average 12 miles to hospitals with less backlog, they could be treated weeks or months earlier. NHS rules give patients the right to be treated at any hospital that meets their needs. However, GPs refer them locally.
Speaking to the media, David Hare, the head of the IHPN, said: “This right to choose has existed for years, but very few people know about it. Waiting conditions could get even worse, as GPs taking industrial action will send even more patients straight to hospitals.
It comes after a fresh investigation revealed nearly 19,000 NHS patients waited for up to three days in an accident and emergency (A&E) department over a 12-month period. From April 2023 to March 2024, nearly 400,000 people will have to wait longer than 24 hours in A&E departments. This is a 5% increase on the figures for the previous year.
The investigation exposed the “suffering and humiliation suffered by patients on a daily basis”. It came after an undercover reporter secretly filmed herself working as a trainee healthcare assistant for two months inside the emergency department of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The footage shows a patient waiting in a seated area for almost 30 hours. A suspected stroke victim was also present for a 24-hour period.
One clip also showed an elderly man who was forced to urinate on a trolley in a corridor filled with staff and other patients.
Speaking to the media a hospital spokesperson said: “We understand our challenges and are investing in our services and continually improving as a trust, as noted in our recent CQC report. However, there is still more to be done; we do not want to be in a situation where we have to care for patients in corridors.”
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