NHS patients could have chance to travel for surgery

NHS patients in England, who have been waiting over two years for surgery are being offered hospital treatment in certain parts of the country.

Over 6,000 long-term waiting-list patients are being offered travel and accomodation costs where necessary, to help the NHS with the increasing backlog. Healthcare professionals are trying to ensure that nobody is waiting for over two years by the end of July. Over 400 patients have already said that they would be prepared to travel in order to receive the appropriate care.

Three patients waiting for surgery in Derby have already received treatment in the Northumbria health region, with another two patients booked in, according to NHS England. In south-west London, 17 orthopaedic patients from South West England are being treated, and another 11 patients re set to follow in the coming weeks.

Sajid Javid has said: "Innovations like this are helping to tackle waiting lists and speed up access to treatment, backed by record investment.” He also said that there are over 90 community diagnostic centres delivering over a million checks and scans in the past year.

The latest NHS figures show that last month was the busiest May for emergency care, with 2.2 million A&E attendances. As it stands, there are nearly 6.5 million people in England waiting for hospital treatment – which is a record high. Many are waiting for knee and hip replacements, as well as eye surgery.

Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, said: "Millions who did not seek help earlier in the pandemic are now coming forward."

"One of the benefits of the NHS is that hospitals can work together to bring COVID-19 backlogs down together, and so if people can and want to be treated quicker elsewhere in the country, NHS staff are ensuring that it can happen.”

Lina Adams