NHS App Empowers Patients with Hospital Choices
A Leap Towards Shorter Waiting Times and Enhanced Patient Autonomy
In a significant move towards patient empowerment, NHS England has announced that patients will now have the ability to choose from a selection of hospitals via the NHS App and website. This initiative, spearheaded by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), aims to reduce waiting times for treatment.
Post consultation with their GPs, patients can access information on at least five providers, when possible, through the app or website. This information includes waiting times, travel distance, and quality of service, aiding patients in making informed decisions. The newly updated software will also allow GPs to utilise their IT systems for patient referrals.
Those without access to the necessary technology can discuss their choices with their GPs or call the National Referral Helpline. According to DHSC, only one in ten patients currently exercise their right to choose. However, research indicates that allowing patients to select a different hospital can reduce waiting times by up to three months.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, emphasised the transformative potential of this initiative, stating, "By giving patients a 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."
The NHS App, with over 32 million sign-ups and approximately 75 million visits per month, already offers features such as booking and managing GP appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, and managing hospital referrals. This new feature is another step towards embracing the latest innovations and technology for the benefit of patients.
In addition to this, from October, patients on waiting lists for more than 40 weeks without a treatment date will be asked if they wish to switch hospitals through mutual aid arrangements between trusts.
Source: UKAuthority