Little-known NHS rule allowing patients to skip waiting lists instead of going private

The NHS is trialling new ways to reduce wait times by using a monitoring device to speed up the diagnosis of irregular heart rhythms

NHS patients can skip waiting lists instead of turning to private healthcare using a little-known rule.

The UK is experiencing record waiting times for NHS services, a new report claims, and as a result more people are opting for private healthcare.

Health experts say there is a direct link between much-publicized wait times and demand for treatments.

Liz Heath, author of the report, said: “There appears to be a direct link between the well publicized and expanding NHS waiting lists and waiting times for election procedures and diagnoses and self-pay requests.

“With these waiting lists not going down, we expect demand to be sustained as people seek access to treatment.”

But the Liverpool echo says there are ways to bypass long waiting lists.

The NHS is exploring new ways to reduce waiting times by: a Monitoring device to speed up diagnosis of irregular heart rhythms, reducing wait time at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital from eight weeks to days.

Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System have launched a ‘life-saving’ cancer detection phone app, eliminating unnecessary dermatology referrals.

But a scheme could allow you to skip NHS waiting lists entirely.

The “right to choose” is guaranteed by the NHS Constitution, which “gives most people living in England the right to choose where they are treated”.

With some caveats such as catchment area, capacity, and cost, patients have the legal right to choose their GP practice, to opt for theirs NHS Care and choose the care organization when their GP refers them to an initial appointment with a consultant or specialist.

You can even be treated by a clinical team led by a board-certified or designated health professional, and referred to many private hospitals

But that’s only if they’re providing services for the NHS and it doesn’t cost the health service any more than a referral to a regular NHS hospital.

That NHS electronic referral servicean electronic booking service, allows people living in England to choose from clinics and hospitals, including some private hospitals, across England.

Private organizations accessible under the NHS Right to Choose are referred to as ‘qualified providers’.

These include Psychiatry UK, an online psychiatric service “contracted to provide ADHD diagnosis and treatment services to adults with a number of clinical commission groups in England”.

Patients could wait years for a first NHS appointment, according to the charity adhd action, but they could be seen within weeks and start medication within months by going private.

However, current demand is such that all appointments for Psychiatry UK’s adult ADHD services are fully booked until October 2022.

The right to vote applies to both mental health and physical illness – and it covers services from general medicine to specialist examinations and treatment.

There are certain circumstances in which you do not have the right to choose, including if you are a prisoner or a member of the armed forces, if you are using emergency services or require emergency or urgent treatment such as: B. Cancer services where required to be seen within two weeks.

However, you can ask to be referred to another hospital if you have to wait longer before seeing a specialist if you suspect you have cancer.

Otherwise, patients must wait more than 18 weeks before starting treatment for a physical or mental illness unless their treatment is urgent.

That NHS website said: “You should always have a choice when making a transfer and be given the opportunity to discuss the options with the person who is referring you.

“If you feel like you haven’t been offered a choice, the first thing you should do is speak to the person who is referring you.”