The NHS is offering patients waiting over 40 weeks for treatment the option to go to a different hospital if it can reduce their waiting time. Up to 400,000 eligible patients will be contacted to choose their travel distance preference. NHS teams will then assess if other hospitals have capacity, and a digital system may be used to find suitable providers. The move aims to reduce backlogs caused by the pandemic and enhance patient choice and care.
Do you see this as a positive step in improving healthcare access, or do you have concerns about potential challenges and limitations in this approach?