The NHS is developing an online matching platform to assist patients in receiving treatment sooner by bypassing the queue at their local hospital.
Doctors can input information about individuals stuck on waiting lists, allowing other providers – both NHS and independent – to offer their services.
The platform, which was launched in January, was initially used for patients requiring hospital admission and has resulted in over 1,700 offers of assistance.
It will now expand to include cancer treatments, diagnostic checks, and outpatient appointments.
Amanda Pritchard, CEO of the NHS, stated that this “smart new tool” will help to further address backlogs.
She stated, “Once again, it demonstrates the benefits of having a national health service – NHS personnel can now collaborate more closely with other hospitals throughout the country to identify available capacity and conveniently match patients to treatment and appointment slots.”
“Technology is already revolutionizing the way we operate in the NHS, and we will continue to embrace the latest innovations, such as this one, to provide the best possible care for patients.”
The expansion comes as the NHS faces a growing backlog, with a record 7.47 million people waiting for planned treatment at the end of May.
The platform will find matches for patients who are willing to travel for quicker treatment. If multiple providers offer to take on their case, the patient will have the opportunity to choose their preferred location for treatment.
The system will primarily focus on finding solutions for those who have been waiting the longest, as the NHS strives to ensure that no one waits longer than 65 weeks by next April.
Rachel Power, CEO of the Patients Association, welcomed the expansion of the hospital matching platform and believes it will make it easier for patients and healthcare professionals to decide together where to receive treatment or tests.
She stated, “Patient choice has been a right for over a decade, but not all patients are aware of this right, and it is not always offered to them.”
“Hopefully, by making it easy for healthcare professionals to see the available choices for patient treatment, the number of patients benefiting from mutual aid within the NHS will increase.”
The government has announced plans to enhance partnerships with the private sector to eliminate backlogs. Over 150 independent providers are registered on the matchmaking platform.
The use of the independent sector to support elective care has increased by more than a third since 2021 – from 65,000 appointments and procedures per week to over 90,000.