Patients who have spent at least ten months on the NHS waiting list will be offered treatment hundreds of miles away, in a bid to speed up access to care.

Letters, emails and text messages will be sent to around 400,000 patients in England asking if they would be willing to travel for faster care.

They will be asked how far they are willing to go — 50 miles, 100 miles or nationally — before being matched to alternative hospitals that can see them sooner. 

Health leaders say the move will maximise the capacity of the NHS while giving patients more choice and control.

But critics say it is ‘not a magic bullet’ and could exclude those who feel too old or ill to travel.

MailOnline’s interactive tool now lets you see the queue at your local hospital trust and the proportion of patients who have been waiting for 18 weeks or less — the maximum time patients should wait for treatment under NHS rules. 

MailOnline app users can view it by clicking here

The figures show Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has the highest proportion of patients waiting more than 18 weeks at 60.6 per cent. Almost six in ten were also waiting at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which logged a proportion of 57.5 per cent. Some 55.7 per cent were left waiting more than 18 weeks at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, while the figure stood at 52.8 per cent at James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The figures show Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has the highest proportion of patients waiting more than 18 weeks at 60.6 per cent. Almost six in ten were also waiting at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which logged a proportion of 57.5 per cent. Some 55.7 per cent were left waiting more than 18 weeks at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, while the figure stood at 52.8 per cent at James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The figures show Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has the highest proportion of patients waiting more than 18 weeks at 60.6 per cent. Almost six in ten were also waiting at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which logged a proportion of 57.5 per cent. Some 55.7 per cent were left waiting more than 18 weeks at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, while the figure stood at 52.8 per cent at James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The figures show Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has the highest proportion of patients waiting more than 18 weeks at 60.6 per cent. 

Almost six in ten were also waiting at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which logged a proportion of 57.5 per cent. 

Some 55.7 per cent were left waiting more than 18 weeks at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, while the figure stood at 52.8 per cent at James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

University Hospitals Birmingham (52.6 per cent), Stockport (51.7 per cent) and Countess of Chester (51.4 per cent) also reported some of the highest proportions of patients waiting more than 18 weeks. 

At the other end of the scale, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust had just two per cent waiting over the timescale — the smallest proportion in the country. 

Two other cancer hospitals — the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (4.2 per cent) and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trusts (5.3 per cent) — were among the other trusts with the smallest proportion. 

Under the fresh NHS guidance, patients will be eligible for treatment at alternative hospitals if they have been waiting longer than 40 weeks and do not have an appointment scheduled within the next eight weeks — an estimated 5 per cent of those on the record 7.75million waiting list. 

There were 4.6million people waiting for treatment in February 2020 but the number soared when the NHS postponed most routine care to prioritise Covid patients during the pandemic. 

The NHS will use a ‘matching platform’ launched earlier this year to link patients to NHS and private sector hospitals outside their area. 

If no alternative hospital is found within two months, the patient will remain with their current provider and keep their position on the waiting list.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said it demonstrated ‘the clear benefits of a single national health service, with staff able to share capacity right across the country’.

She added: ‘This new step to offer NHS patients who have been waiting the longest the opportunity to consider travelling for treatment is just another example of how we are introducing new approaches to reduce how long patients wait, while improving the choice and control they have over their own care.

‘So, whether a patient’s care moves to the next town or somewhere farther away, it is absolutely right that we make the most of available capacity across the country to continue to reduce the backlogs that have inevitably built up due to the pandemic and provide the best possible service.’

England's ever-growing backlog hit 7.75million in August ¿ the equivalent of one in seven people. This includes nearly 400,000 stuck in the system for over a year, often in pain

England's ever-growing backlog hit 7.75million in August ¿ the equivalent of one in seven people. This includes nearly 400,000 stuck in the system for over a year, often in pain

England’s ever-growing backlog hit 7.75million in August — the equivalent of one in seven people. This includes nearly 400,000 stuck in the system for over a year, often in pain

Patients who have spent at least ten months on the NHS waiting list will be offered treatment hundreds of miles away

Patients who have spent at least ten months on the NHS waiting list will be offered treatment hundreds of miles away

Patients who have spent at least ten months on the NHS waiting list will be offered treatment hundreds of miles away

The latest data shows that around 397,000 patients have been waiting more than a year for treatment, with almost 9,000 at over 18 months.

Patients will be contacted directly by their NHS trust or independent sector provider and should not contact their GP practice or hospital.

Funding and support will be available to help those who may struggle to travel, such as taxis or hotels for the elderly or disabled. 

However, the NHS admitted a number of patients will not qualify if their clinical condition is too complex, making it inappropriate to travel.

Rory Deighton of the NHS Confederation, which represents health service employers, said the move would ease pressure on some of the most strained parts of the system.

He added: ‘Matching demand to places with capacity is sensible and will be beneficial to those patients who are able and willing to travel.

‘But health leaders will be mindful that this scheme will not work for everyone as some patients will not feel able or comfortable to travel very far for their treatment, and others with more minor health complaints in fact may prefer to wait for an appointment to become available at their local healthcare provider.’

Health Secretary Steve Barclay declared: ‘Empowering people to choose where and when they receive their treatment will help tackle waiting lists and improve access to NHS care.’

Source

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