In an effort to provide patients with quicker care and advice while avoiding long NHS hospital waiting lists, the government in England is expanding a scheme to support GPs. This initiative will enable GPs to collaborate more closely with specialists for speedy expert advice on conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, menopause symptoms, and ear infections. With an allocation of £80m in funding, the goal is to enhance the healthcare experience for two million individuals by 2025/26 in their local communities.
Health Minister Karen Smyth emphasized that this scheme aims to save time and reduce the need for unnecessary hospital appointments. The government’s broader strategy includes reducing NHS waiting lists and creating additional appointment slots for patients. By the end of this parliamentary term, they have set a target for 92% of NHS patients to wait less than 18 weeks for treatment after being referred to a consultant. Notably, between July and December 2024, the scheme has redirected 660,000 treatments from hospitals to community settings.
Dubbed ‘Advice and Guidance’, this innovative program facilitates the collaboration between GPs and hospital specialists prior to patients being added to waiting lists. By offering tests and treatments in more convenient locations, such as local hubs, individuals with conditions like tinnitus or those seeking advice on hormone replacement therapy can receive care without the need for specialist referrals. GP practices stand to benefit from this scheme by claiming for every instance that care is transitioned from hospitals to the community.
Emphasizing the importance of effective communication and patient choice, National Voices, a consortium of health charities in England, highlights the necessity of providing clear information about the practical implications of this service on patient care. The British Medical Association acknowledges the historical underinvestment in general practice and sees this initiative as a positive step towards recognizing the pivotal role of GPs in delivering enhanced care to patients in community settings. Looking ahead, they stress the importance of finalizing a new GP contract within the current parliamentary term to secure the future of family GP services
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