NHS: Thousands of patients facing long waits for non-urgent, diagnostic tests are soon to be offered the choice of going to an alternative hospital for earlier treatment, it has been revealed.
Thousands of patients facing long waits for non-urgent, diagnostic tests are soon to be offered the choice of going to an alternative hospital for earlier treatment, it has been revealed.
The news came as Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced that, from November 2005, a 'choice of scans' programme will be put into place in order to shorten the waiting time for the 80,000 patients who have been referred by their GP or their consultant.
The scheme will use both NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts capacity as well as independent healthcare providers.
At first, the programme will be offered to patients who have been waiting longer than 20 weeks for a MRI or a CT scan.
By April 2006, however, it will be extended to patients waiting longer than 16 weeks for the vast majority of imaging scans including MRI, CT, ultrasound or DEXA scans.
This will cut the maximum waiting time to 20 weeks.
Commenting on the forthcoming launch, Hewitt said that while most serious cases are already fast-tracked for diagnostic tests, patients waiting for less urgent scans should still be able to be seen as soon as the NHS can do so.
"This scheme will help tackle this hidden waiting list. It is an important step on the way towards our goal of a total maximum wait of 18 weeks from surgery door to hospital treatment by 2008 - which includes time for any diagnostic tests that are needed. Speedier access to diagnostic tests is an essential aspect of achieving that." Hewitt added: "While we build this capacity, I want to make sure that no patient has to wait longer than necessary for their scan if there is somewhere else in the NHS or independent sector that can provide it more quickly.
"Independent studies of earlier NHS choice schemes showed that patients valued choice and that choice shortened waiting times," she concluded.
