Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has welcomed measures which empower residents to choose where they receive their NHS care under new plans to help cut waiting lists.
Not only are the sweeping reforms aimed to give patients more choice, but also end the 8am rush for appointments, with practices across England being given £240 million this year to embrace the latest technology.
Patients will be able to contact their general practice more easily and quickly – and find out exactly how their request will be handled on the day they call – as part of a major multi-million pound boost to primary care.
This will mean that when patients contact their practice online or over the phone they will know on the day they make contact how their query will be managed, rather than being told to call back later. If their need is urgent, they will be assessed and given appointments on the same day. If it is not urgent, appointments should be offered within two weeks, or patients will be referred to NHS 111 or a local pharmacy.
Further still if a referral is made by the GP, patients will be able to view information for up to five healthcare providers – filtered by distance, waiting times and quality of care – following recent expansions to the way the NHS App and website.
From October those who have waited more than 40 weeks and not had a date confirmed for their appointment will be asked whether they want to switch hospitals to be seen more quickly, if clinically appropriate.
Guidance has been provided to GPs to support them to offer choice to patients, with training available on using IT systems to make referrals
From 31 October, all patients will automatically be able to access new health information entered onto their GP health record online and via the NHS App, including test results, appointment notes and hospital letters.
Dr Luke Evans, GP turned Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said “One of my driving forces to get into politics was to try and change the day-to-day running of the NHS. In my clinics as a GP, I saw first-hand the frustrations patients had with the systems – and believe me it was just as bad for the clinicians!
“Since entering Parliament I have been arguing for simple changes to be made to the day-to-day workings of the NHS for healthcare professionals and, importantly, their patients. These announcements are definitely a step in the right direction.
“These plans to improve access, coupled with £14.5 million for the Community Diagnostic Centre in Hinckley, means not only faster access to tests but improved access to healthcare right in our community.”
Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said “We are already making real progress with 10% more GP appointments happening every month compared to before the pandemic.
“I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice and bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments.
“To do this we are improving technology and reducing bureaucracy, increasing staffing and changing the way primary care services are provided, which are all helping to deliver on the government’s promise to cut waiting lists.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “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”.
