In an effort to alleviate the strain on the NHS caused by unnecessary hospital appointments, the government is set to implement a scheme that involves paying GPs to seek advice from hospital specialists, enabling them to manage more cases locally. This move is anticipated to prevent around two million patients from needing to physically attend hospitals by the following year.
The “Advice and Guidance” scheme, already operational in certain regions, will be expanded to encompass all practices. Under this initiative, GPs can directly consult hospital doctors over the phone or via online platforms, subsequently taking the necessary steps based on the received advice. This approach is expected to reduce the volume of patients requiring in-person hospital visits for their appointments.
Health minister Karin Smyth emphasized the aim to provide care closer to patients' homes, ultimately saving time and minimizing the need for large numbers of individuals to visit hospitals for avoidable appointments. The restructuring of NHS operations is geared towards achieving increased efficiency and delivering improved outcomes for patients.
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By utilizing the new system to request advice rather than referring patients to hospitals, GPs will be entitled to a modest payment for each instance. The Mirror reports a staggering 7.5 million appointments for hospital care currently on the waiting list, a threefold increase from 2010.
Professor Sir Sam Everington, a longstanding GP in Tower Hamlets, highlighted the potential to manage a significant portion of cases with guidance from a consultant and subsequent treatment by the GP, alleviating the stress and uncertainty associated with prolonged waiting times.
Moreover, Sharon Brennan, director at patient campaign group National Voices, emphasized the necessity for genuine shared decision-making at the core of the advice and guidance service. This approach could ensure that, where suitable, patients receive appropriate care closer to home, thus obviating the need to anxiously await consultant appointments.
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