17
Accepted
We asked about how patients other than the longest waiters and those with the highest...
Conclusion
We asked about how patients other than the longest waiters and those with the highest clinical priority would be supported while they waited. NHSE&I stated that GPs had a role in managing these patients and that it was also asking secondary care clinicians to ensure patients were clearly informed about their position on waiting lists. NHSE&I explained that it has been trying to get NHS commissioners and providers to review regularly whether patients’ clinical priority had changed and to have conversations with patients. NHSE&I accepted that these approaches had not been working as well as they should in all parts of the system; it said it wanted to build the capacity for more reviews in future.38 In evidence submitted to us, the British Heart Foundation stated that services should be appropriately resourced to support patients to self-manage and improve their 33 Q32 34 Q76 35 C&AG’s Report, page 4 36 NHS England’s published waiting times statistics for December 2021 37 Q71 38 Q103 14 NHS backlogs and waiting times in England wellbeing while they waited for treatment; this could not just be about patients being left to fend for themselves but meant regular contact, including timely updates on delays, and signposting to relevant services.39 Geographical disparities
Government Response Summary
The government agreed with the committee's observation, stating that better information and support for patients is a key part of the Elective Recovery Plan and highlighting the launch and planned expansion of the 'My Planned Care' platform to provide personalized information and support to patients awaiting treatment.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date Spring 2023 4.2 Delivery of the Elective Recovery Plan, and the initiatives deployed to achieve it, will be closely monitored by both the department and NHSE&I. Please also refer to response to recommendation 1. 4.3 Better information and support for patients is a key part of the Elective Recovery Plan. Providing people and their carers with information and personalised support is central to that ambition and the overall recovery plan. The department and NHSE&I aim to enable people to make informed decisions and be more in control of managing their own care, to reduce the impact of waiting for treatment and supporting recovery after treatment. 4.4 In February 2022, NHSE&I launched the My Planned Care platform. This platform allows patients and their carers to access information ahead of their planned appointment, operation, or treatment. The platform will be expanded in the coming months to include personalised information and support for patients on the waiting list to help them stay well while they wait, including advice on how best to manage symptoms. 4.5 On prioritisation, the NHS is prioritising diagnosis and treatment according to clinical urgency and is working to reduce the longest waits as part of the Elective Recovery Plan.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry
NHS Backlogs and waiting times
Report
Forty-Fourth Report - NHS backlogs and waiting times in England
16 Mar 2022
HC 747
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.4 yrs
Report published
16 Mar 2022