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Found 248 results
  1. News Article
    The upcoming 10-Year Health Plan is set to propose the introduction of “virtual hospitals” based on patients directly contacting consultants on an Uber-style platform, HSJ has been told. Senior sources have indicated the proposal will involve a major overhaul and expansion of the existing “advice and guidance” model, whereby GPs can seek advice from a consultant before referring a patient to hospital, in the hope of finding an alternative. Described by one well-placed official as “Uber for consultants”, the new proposal would create a system for GPs and individual patients to directly seek advice from any consultants, including those outside their home area, who make themselves available. It is being described as “virtual hospitals” or “virtual clinics”. Speaking at a session hosted by HSJ at NHS ConfedExpo this week, NHS England chair Penny Dash described a similar model which she said was “in the foothills” of development and could reap large benefits. She said there should be a “much easier way” of GPs getting advice “from anywhere in the country” to help divert a patient from secondary care. Dr Dash said: “It could be, for example, a model whereby you put in your question, let’s initially say as a GP or a practice nurse, it goes into a central repository as it were, and you have a team of [consultants] who are available for that time who are looking at it and responding to it. “It doesn’t have to be the [consultant] in your local district general hospital, it could be anyone anywhere in the country.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 13 June 2025
  2. News Article
    Appointment reminders, invitations to health screenings and test results will now be received by patients on their phones. The government says moving to a more digital-focused NHS will mean 50 million fewer letters need to be sent out by the health service, saving an estimated £200m over the next three years. Instead, under the new plans, millions of people will be notified about appointments and other important notices via the NHS app on their phone or digital device. The app is set to become the go-to method for the NHS to communicate with people, the Department of Health and Social Care said. The changes will be backed by more than £50m investment. It will see a predicted 270 million messages sent through the app this year, an increase of around 70 million on the last financial year, the government announced. The health secretary said: "The fact that people still get letters through the front door, sometimes multiple letters about the same appointment... The NHS has been stuck in the mud when it comes to the everyday technology we use to organise our lives. And that's why what we're doing with the NHS app is really exciting." Read full story Source: The Guardian, 7 June 2025
  3. News Article
    Replacing GP receptionists with a “digital triage” system has made it easier for patients to see their family doctors, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The NHS said that 99% of GP surgeries in England had now adopted an e-consultation system, meaning patients fill out an online form as their first point of contact. After detailing symptoms, they receive a call or message back that day, offering a face-to-face appointment, a phone consultation, or directing patients elsewhere, such as to a pharmacy. It means people are spared the hassle of having to call up their GP reception in an “8am scramble” for appointments, and NHS leaders reported that access had improved over the past year. New ONS figures show that 72% of people said it was easy or very easy to contact their GP, up from 60 per cent in July 2024. However, access to GP appointments is still significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with surgeries struggling to cope with increased demand. There were 29.3 million GP appointments in April 2025 — a rise of almost five million on the same period pre-pandemic. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 2 June 2025
  4. News Article
    A new AMN Healthcare survey published 27 May found it now takes an average of 31 days to schedule a physician appointment in 15 of the largest US metropolitan areas — up 19% from 2022 and 48% from 2004. AMN Healthcare conducted the survey of 1,391 physician offices in January and February. In 2022, the last year the survey was conducted, it took 26 days. In 2004, the first year the survey was conducted, it took 21 days. The survey, which focused on six medical specialties, gathered data from offices across the Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, Ore., San Diego, Seattle and Washington, D.C., areas. It highlights ongoing challenges related to scheduling physician appointments. Read full story Source: Becker's Clinical Leadership, 27 May 2025
  5. News Article
    Keir Starmer made slashing NHS waiting times one of his priorities, and his Labour government has already claimed it as one of its biggest achievements so far. But new data tells a different story - and the public aren't noticing an improvement. "The target was never particularly ambitious," says the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) about Labour's plan to add two million extra NHS appointments during their first year in power. In February, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced they had achieved the feat early. He recently described the now 3.6m additional appointments achieved in their first eight months as a "massive increase". But new data, obtained by independent fact checking charity Full Fact and shared exclusively with Sky News, reveals this figure actually signalled a slowing down in new NHS activity. The data also reveals how unambitious the target was in the first place. We now know two million extra appointments over the course of a year represents a rise of less than 3% of the almost 70 million carried out in the year to June 2024. Responding to the findings, Sarah Scobie, deputy director of independent health and social care think tank the Nuffield Trust, told Sky News the two million target was "very modest". She said delivering that number of appointments "won't come close to bringing the treatment waiting list back to pre-pandemic levels, or to meeting longer-term NHS targets". Read full story Source: Sky News, 23 May 2025
  6. Content Article
    This report from the Partnership for Change explores one of the most persistent challenges patients face: poor care co-ordination. It draws on insight from across the health charity sector to offer a clear and practical vision for improving how care is delivered and experienced in the NHS. The Partnership for Change is a collaboration of ten leading patient groups brought together and funded by Pfizer.  The report outlines a set of recommendations to help the NHS, and wider health systems, put patients at the centre of co-ordinated care. The report recommendations are to: Measure patient experience and act on the data. Make communication between healthcare, professionals and patients simpler, quicker, and more efficient. Proactively build a culture of collaboration. Take a holistic approach to care for long-term conditions. Related reading on the hub: How the Patients Association helpline can help you navigate your care Care co-ordination for people with long-term conditions: Patient Safety Learning’s response to HSSIB investigation #NavigatingHealth—Enabling every patient, every time, system-wide The challenges of navigating the healthcare system
  7. News Article
    New figures from the NHS reveal that 31.4 million GP appointments were delivered in March 2025, a 6.1% increase on the same period last year and nearly 20% more than before the pandemic. This increase, the NHS claims, is due to GP practices adopting digital services to help meet growing demand while ensuring patients are directed to the right care more efficiently. Starting in October, all GP surgeries will be required to offer online appointment requests throughout working hours as part of a new contract, which aims to ease phone line pressure and allow smarter triaging based on medical need. Currently, 99% of GP practices in England have already upgraded their phone systems, expanding capacity and reducing long waits for patients. Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities, said in a statement: “GP teams are delivering over 30 million appointments a month, up nearly 20% on pre-pandemic levels. Patients can also manage repeat prescriptions and view test results through the NHS App, making care more convenient.” The NHS has also announced that AI is enabling GPs and clinicians to cut the time spent on admin and increase the time and effort expended on patients. Data from AI trials shows an increase in patients seen by A&E, shorter appointments and more time by clinicians spent with the patient. Read full story Source: UK Authority, 30 April 2025
  8. News Article
    Patients’ satisfaction with GP services has collapsed in recent years as family doctors have switched to providing far fewer face-to-face appointments, new research has revealed. The proportion of patients seeing a GP in person has plummeted from more than four-fifths (80.7%) in 2019 to just under two-thirds (66.2%) last year. Telephone appointments have almost doubled over the same period from 13.4% to 25.4%. Those undertaken by video or online, including some in which patients fill in an online form but have no direct interaction with a GP, have risen almost eightfold from 0.6% to 4.6%. The Institute for Government (IFG) thinktank also found patients valued face-to-face appointments so highly that they regarded them as more important than their GP surgery offering more appointments overall by maximising the number provided remotely. They are more satisfied with practices that offer more in-person sessions, and less satisfied with those relying more on telephone and remote consultations, even though those free GPs up to see more patients. The dramatic shift in how family doctors interact with patients has coincided with a huge fall in public satisfaction with GP services. “Patient satisfaction is higher in practices that deliver more of their appointments face to face,” according to an IFG report tracking the performance of England’s 6,200 GP surgeries since 2019. Surgeries that offer the most remote appointments have experienced the biggest falls in satisfaction, the IFG analysis shows. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 22 April 2025
  9. News Article
    More details on plans to only add people who are "fit and well" to surgery waiting lists and crack down on missed appointments are expected to be revealed on Monday. Health Secretary Jeremy Miles will give a speech to health leaders on the Welsh government's bid to cut waiting lists by around one quarter by March 2026. Hospital volunteer John Timmons, 70, said he saw "a ridiculous number" of patients not turning up for appointments and would support the plans. But health equality charity, Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW), said "fear of weight stigma" could delay some people from seeking help. The proposed changes are part of a number of Welsh government ideas being discussed to improve the NHS, which has recently seen small reductions in record waiting lists. These include: Patients who miss hospital appointments twice or more being referred back to their GP, in effect placing them at the back of the queue. An improved Welsh NHS app, allowing patients to track their progress through the system and make or amend appointments. Increased levels of intervention to get patients fit for surgery, such as people being asked to lose weight or exercise more before they are placed on a waiting list. The Welsh government said patients who were fit and well before surgery were more likely to recover quickly and support would be given to get them "in the best possible shape" for treatment. Read full story Source: BBC News, 6 April 2025
  10. Community Post
    For healthcare to be safe it needs to be accessible. But what does this look like for people with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and Long Covid? A recent blog on the hub from #ThereForME explores the barriers that impact access to NHS care for people with ME and Long Covid. If you have ME or Long Covid, or care for someone who does, we’re keen to hear about your experiences: Have there been times where you delayed or were unable to access the care you needed due to these or other challenges? Have you or the person you care for experienced an exacerbation of symptoms due to exertion involved in seeking healthcare? What would make the biggest difference to you to make care more accessible? Do you have any experiences to share where reasonable adjustments were made or a member of staff went out of their way to make it easier for you to access care? Please share your experiences. You can post anonymously below or you can sign up to the hub and become a member which will allow you to post on other topics too. Sign up is free and easy to do.
  11. Content Article
    We hear time and time again on the hub about the lack of joined up care and communication within and across organisations. Patients and their families and carers not knowing who to contact to chase up a referral, having to travel miles for appointments, missing appointments because the letter didn’t arrive on time, or having to repeat the patient’s history and medications to every new healthcare professional they see because the notes haven’t been shared or clinicians "don’t have time to read them all". These issues are widespread and urgently need to be addressed if we are to prevent people falling through the gaps and suffering worse health outcomes. In this blog, Sue* shares her and her husband's experiences of trying to coordinate the healthcare system and highlights the challenges and frustrations they continuously face. Difficulties getting a diagnosis My husband Neil* has a very rare chronic condition that means unfortunately he is not managed in the area we live at as it’s a regional centre some miles away. We live in North Yorkshire, one of the largest geographical areas in the country, and we feed into various health economies. It took over 4 years and three different healthcare organisations before Neil got his diagnosis. Every time we see someone new we have to go through all of Neil’s medical history again, and then they often say that it’s not their area of expertise because they only deal directly with one area or speciality; they don't think of the patient as a whole. Whilst waiting to get the diagnosis, Neil had a heart attack so he was initially treated more locally to us but it was still over 40 miles away from where we live. When we called an ambulance for a second time he was taken to a different hospital from the first one he was treated in. So he was taken to two different geographical areas not even under the same trust. To add to this, Neil is also under lots of different specialities, i.e. rheumatology, general surgery, dermatology, respiratory and lipids. So he is being treated and has appointments in numerous places. Coordinating appointments and results With all these different specialties, even if they are within the same regional centre, none of the information is joined up or accessible, including blood results from the GP. We find that things are incorrect all the time and we spend a lot of time trying to coordinate Neil’s care and following up on test results, appointments, etc. Neil receives appointments in various ways—emails, phone calls, texts, letters, messages left on his answer phone. You might get a phone call followed by a letter, or you could get a message to say ignore the letter. You may miss a call but you don’t know which department to ring back because it usually comes up as an unknown number. Recently, Neil received a text message which said he was on a waiting list, but it didn’t say what it was for or what specialist department it was from. It said in the text that if you no longer wanted the appointment and wanted to cancel it, to follow a link, but we had no idea what the appointment was referring to or where it came from! As a patient you want to have some control over your health and be able to see all blood test results, scan results and letters from the hospitals. For example, it would be so much easier to look at Neil’s medications and patient letters if they were all in one place but you can't look at the medical records to see what's been said. The only way we can get it is waiting for the letter to be seen by the GP and then, eventually, added on to their system, but it's not always quick because again it's a different geographical area and systems that are disconnected. As a patient with a new disorder, you’re not familiar with the system. Neil was referred to other specialities from rheumatology. Unfortunately, the treatment plan. including tests or length of wait for appointments, isn’t shared directly with us. We rely on my note taking to ensure everything is completed and followed up. Often we end up going to an appointment without the tests Neil needs to have done due to the length of wait for the test, or the test being triaged and cancelled but this not communicated either to us or the referring doctor. The waiting for test results at the moment are long for some of these tests but if it was in your capacity to be able to seek or understand when you might possibly get them, you wouldn't then end up wasting an appointment. You would wait until you've had the results back or know when it might be. It could take us over two hours travelling time for a wasted appointment. We don’t want to waste our time and the time of others. Lack of communication Neil has radiotherapy coming up shortly and we've had no communications regarding it. I ended up making a phone call to inquire and was given a date. But we’ve still not received a phone call, no email, no letter or anything about it, even though they've got the date and time in their books. You can’t make plans, for example if you are trying to go away for the summer. If you’re waiting for a treatment, which on the NHS may take a while, you want to know when to expect the appointment. It’s a lot easier to manage your condition or diagnosis if you have the knowledge of when something's going to happen and you can manage your own expectations. Navigating the various healthcare apps To try and help with all of this we’ve been really keen to try and find a way to get all of Neil’s medical information, from many different organisations, together in one place and to rationalise appointments. We signed up to the NHS app which then put us on to System Online and then Neil was directed to AirMid UK. We've also found the Patients Know Best app which has been set up and says that you can access all your records but it seems to be only if an organisation has signed up to it. So we’ve got four apps to supposedly access the information but not one of them has all of Neil's information. We are actively looking for an online place which has all the information but none of it ties up. None of the apps give you the same information. We’ve asked our GP but he couldn’t help and hadn’t heard of some of the apps we’d found. A system that isn't working These are just a few examples of what we’re dealing with. I’m lucky as I have some medical knowledge so I know when we're missing something or waiting for something and I will chase up, but not everyone will have this knowledge. If it’s an older patient, or someone who hasn’t got family to support them, then they are on their own to navigate a very complex system. A system that isn't working. *The names in this blog have been changed to ensure anonymity. Are you a patient, relative or carer frustrated with navigating the healthcare system? Or is your GP practice or Trust doing something innovative to make it easier for patients? We would love to hear your stories. Please add to our community forum (you will need to register with the hub, it's free and easy to sign up) or email us at [email protected]. Related reading The challenges of navigating the healthcare system: David's story The challenges of navigating the healthcare system: Margaret's story Navigating the healthcare system as a university student: My personal experience Lost in the system? NHS referrals "I love the NHS, BUT..." Preventing needless harms caused by poor communication in the NHS (DEMOS, November 2023) Robust collaborative practice must become the bedrock of modern healthcare Robbie: A homeless patient’s struggles with the system Digital-only prescription requests: An elderly woman sent round the houses Lost in the system: the need for better admin Digital-only prescription requests: An elderly woman sent round the houses
  12. Content Article
    When you go to see a doctor, it can be difficult to communicate your health concerns clearly, out of fear, embarrassment or a misunderstanding of medical jargon. How can you make the most of these appointments? From taking notes to bringing along a friend, and when to request a second opinion, doctors share their advice on how to access the best possible care.
  13. News Article
    Patients will be able to book more appointments online and request to see their usual doctor under a new contract agreed with England's GPs, the government has said. The deal gives an extra £889m a year to general practices, as well as a reduction in red tape and targets that ministers hope will mean doctors are freed up to see more patients. The Labour government made manifesto promises to bring back "family" doctors and end the early morning phone "scramble" for appointments. The doctors' union, the BMA, says the deal is an important first step in restoring general practices. However, doctors also want the government to commit to talks about a completely new national contract for GPs within this Parliament. GP surgeries are seen as the front door to the NHS, but for years now, doctors have been warning about the pressure their service is under. Patients have felt it too, with some people facing long waits for appointments. Now it is hoped extra money agreed in the new contract for GP surgeries will kick-start improvements. Read full story Source: BBC News, 28 February 2025
  14. Content Article
    Moving away from home and starting university has been a transformative experience. As an 18-year-old studying law and international relations, I’ve enjoyed the new found independence and academic challenges. However, persistent health issues have complicated my transition, leading to a frustrating journey through the healthcare system. My health struggles Since starting university, I’ve dealt with multiple colds and flu-like symptoms, some may call it ‘freshers flu’. A productive cough that lingered for over a month concerned me, but the situation took a serious turn when I started feeling dizzy and breathless with minimal exertion. Realising the severity of my condition, I knew I needed medical help. Seeking help: a series of missteps 1. Pharmacy visit My first stop was the local pharmacy. After describing my symptoms, the pharmacist suspected iron deficiency and recommended iron tablets. While this seemed plausible, my condition continued to worsen, prompting a call to my parents. 2. Exploring options: walk-in GP and NHS 111 My parents suggested visiting a walk-in GP, but I discovered none were available in my area. I then called NHS 111, hoping for guidance. They advised going to Accident and Emergency (A&E) but also mentioned they would request a GP call-back. Given the NHS’s known pressures, I was hesitant to visit A&E for what I didn’t consider an emergency. 3. Urgent treatment centre attempt My mum then suggested my local hospital’s urgent treatment centre. I mustered my energy to go there, only to be informed that I needed a GP appointment. They again suggested A&E. 4. Finally, A&E Feeling increasingly unwell, I headed to A&E. Although it felt like I was going in circles, this decision was crucial. At A&E, I was redirected to the urgent treatment centre where I finally saw an excellent doctor. I was seen quickly, diagnosed and given medication that soon began to help. A few days later, I received a message from NHS 111 stating that my request for a GP call-back had dropped off the system due to the delay. This entire experience has been eye-opening and frustrating. As a young and intelligent individual, I found navigating the healthcare system challenging. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be for older adults, those with additional needs or those less familiar with the process. Lessons learned Navigating healthcare while dealing with a serious condition can be daunting. Here are some key takeaways from my experience that may help other university students or young adults who have moved away from home for the first time: Register with a local GP early As soon as you arrive at university, register with a local GP. It’s crucial to have access to medical care, especially when living away from home for the first time. Understand your options Familiarise yourself with the local healthcare facilities, including urgent treatment centres, walk-in clinics and A&E. Knowing where to go in different situations can save valuable time and stress. Persist and advocate for yourself Don’t be afraid to seek second opinions or alternative solutions if your initial attempts to get help are unsuccessful. Be persistent in advocating for your health needs. Stay informed about healthcare systems Understanding how the healthcare system works, including the pressures it faces, can help you make informed decisions about when and where to seek care. Moving forward Despite the hurdles, my health is now improving thanks to the excellent care I eventually received. This experience has taught me the importance of being proactive about my health and understanding the healthcare system. As I continue my university journey, I’ll be better prepared to navigate any future health challenges. If you’re a student facing similar issues, remember that you’re not alone. Reach out to university health services, friends and family for support. And most importantly, take your health seriously—it’s the foundation upon which all other successes are built. Reflections from my mother My mother, who is a healthcare professional working in the NHS, has had her own set of frustrations and concerns for me throughout this ordeal. She shares her own reflections on my experience: Frustration and helplessness Despite my extensive knowledge of the healthcare system, I felt powerless to help my child navigate the healthcare system from miles away. It was frustrating to be unable to fix the situation quickly and efficiently. Worry and concern Being far from home, I was naturally worried about my son’s health. The distance amplified my anxiety, knowing that they were dealing with worsening symptoms without immediate access to care. Concern for others I am also deeply concerned for other students and individuals who might be in similar situations but are not as vocal or persistent. How do they cope and navigate the system, especially those without a strong support network? Emotional impact This experience left me feeling upset and distressed. As a healthcare professional, I am acutely aware of the pressures on the NHS and the potential for patients to fall through the cracks. Seeing my own son’s struggle highlighted these issues in a very personal way. Are you a student or a young adult who has moved away from home for the first time? How easy have you found it accessing healthcare. We would love to hear your stories. Please comment below (you will need to register with the hub, it's free and easy to sign up), share your story in our community forum, or email us at [email protected]. Related reading The challenges of navigating the healthcare system: David's story The challenges of navigating the healthcare system: Margaret's story The challenges of navigating the healthcare system: Sue's story Lost in the system? NHS referrals "I love the NHS, BUT..." Preventing needless harms caused by poor communication in the NHS (DEMOS, November 2023) Robust collaborative practice must become the bedrock of modern healthcare Robbie: A homeless patient’s struggles with the system Digital-only prescription requests: An elderly woman sent round the houses Lost in the system: the need for better admin Digital-only prescription requests: An elderly woman sent round the houses
  15. Content Article
    Navigating the healthcare system in the UK can be complex and frustrating for patients, families and carers. We hear time and time again on the hub about the lack of joined up care and communication within and across organisations.  Failing to share the right information at the right time can create significant patient safety risks. Poor communications, both with patients and between healthcare professionals, can result in misunderstandings and mistakes resulting in poor outcomes and potentially patient harm. In a new series of blogs on the hub, patients and their relatives describe the challenges and barriers they have faced when trying to navigate the healthcare system.  Although every experience of navigating the healthcare system is different, the blogs in this series highlight some clear themes: Confusing communications and correspondence. Information not accessible across departments. Disjointed electronic systems, often not talking to each other. Concerns around the impact of delays to treatment and diagnostic tests. Near misses managed by patients and family members. Concerns for more vulnerable patients and those without advocates. The negative impact on mental health and stress levels. Not knowing who to contact to chase referrals, appointments or results. Read Sue’s story Sue’s husband Neil has a very rare chronic condition and is under the care of many different specialties. In this blog, Sue shares her and Neil’s experiences of trying to coordinate the healthcare system and highlights the challenges and frustrations they continuously face. Read David’s story In this blog, David shares his story about his elderly sister who has dementia, and a mix up with an urgent referral which led to a near miss. Read Margaret’s story Margaret’s father has dementia and a complex set of health issues. In this blog, Margaret shares her experience of trying to coordinate their elderly father's upcoming surgery. Read a university student’s story Moving to university is a big transition for many. In this anonymous blog, a student describes how persistent health issues led to a frustrating journey through the healthcare system. These stories illustrate how disjointed systems can affect patient and carer experiences and have a negative impact on health outcomes. Commenting on the issues highlighted in the series, Chief Executive of Patient Safety Learning, Helen Hughes says: “Poorly coordinated care is not only confusing and frustrating for patients but also creates safety risks that can result in serious avoidable harm. We hear many examples, such those covered in this blog series, of patients and their families facing a complex and fragmented healthcare environment. When they raise concerns about care and treatment, in too many cases they encounter an unresponsive system where they are left to ‘join the dots for patient safety’. The needs of patients should be central to improving health and care services, actively listening and acting on their experiences and insights when things go wrong for safety improvement.” Share your story What has been your experience of navigating the healthcare system? What is and isn’t working? How does it feel as a patient or carer when you hit barriers? Has your health been affected? Share your story in our community forum or contact our editorial team at [email protected]. Related reading Lost in the system? NHS referrals "I love the NHS, BUT..." Preventing needless harms caused by poor communication in the NHS (DEMOS, November 2023) Robust collaborative practice must become the bedrock of modern healthcare Robbie: A homeless patient’s struggles with the system Digital-only prescription requests: An elderly woman sent round the houses Lost in the system: the need for better admin Digital-only prescription requests: An elderly woman sent round the houses
  16. Community Post
    In a new series of blogs on the hub, patients and their relatives describe the challenges and barriers they have faced when trying to navigate the healthcare system. What has been your experience of navigating the healthcare system? What is and isn’t working? How does it feel as a patient or carer when you hit barriers? Has your health been affected? Or perhaps you're a healthcare professional who has insights to share? Is your work affected by disjointed systems? Have you been involved in implementing systems to help care coordination? Please comment below (sign up first for free) or you can email us at [email protected].
  17. Event
    Following the launch of the Patients Association’s guide and animation providing patients with the knowledge and tools they need to be prepared to get the most out of their care, this webinar will also focus on how patients can be supported before, during and after appointments. This includes ensuring how as a patient, you: are prepared can prevent things going wrong understand what steps you can take at each stage of your journey through the health and care system. This will be chaired by Prof. Alf Collins, Patients Association trustee and previous National Clinical Director for personalised care at NHS England. He will be joined by: Sarah Tilsed, Patients Association's Head of Partnerships and Involvement Adam McDonald, a patient Curie Freeborn, a patient. Register
  18. News Article
    In chronic pain, unable to find an NHS practice and priced out of private care, Colla – like millions of Britons – felt she had no choice but to take matters into her own hands. Linda Colla holds an imaginary tooth between her forefinger and thumb and pulls it. Then she adds some rotation. Extracting her own teeth required wiggling and twisting, she explains. “It took me a couple of weeks to get each one out, because they just loosened and loosened and loosened. I used a tissue to get a better grip.” She points to a front incisor. It was the first to come out. Then a canine and finally a big molar. “It sounds very dramatic, pulling them out. But actually they were already loose,” she says. There was some pain on extraction, but they had been causing her constant pain before that. “It was too painful to eat. They just had to come out.” In 2018, Colla moved to east Devon. She contacted various dental surgeries and was told either that they didn’t take NHS patients or that they didn’t have the capacity to take any more. She went on a waiting list. “I got an email once – or was it a text? – asking if I still wanted to be on the list. I said yes, but I haven’t heard anything since.” She presumes, seven years on, she is still on that list. To have a tooth removed privately costs at least £150. Colla couldn’t afford that. When her three remaining real teeth became too painful to live with, about three years ago, she felt she had no choice but to take matters into her own hands. Thirteen million people in England – 28% of the adult population – have an unmet need for dentistry, according to an analysis in July by the British Dental Association (BDA). The number of people on waiting lists for an NHS dentist is estimated to be about 780,000. When the BDA and the Daily Mirror called up 100 practices listed on nhs.uk as “accepting new patients when availability allows”, they found that 86 were not accepting new patients. Some practices reported a waiting list of up to 10 years. In March 2023, YouGov found that 10% of Britons had carried out their own dental work; 34% of those had pulled out – or tried to pull out – their teeth. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 12 February 2025
  19. Content Article
    For healthcare to be safe it needs to be accessible. But what does this look like for people with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and Long Covid? This blog from #ThereForME explores the barriers that impact access to NHS care for people with ME and Long Covid, and encourages the patient community to share their experiences. What is ME and why is accessing care difficult? ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis, sometimes referred to as ME/CFS) is a complex, chronic condition affecting multiple body systems.[1] Symptoms include debilitating cognitive dysfunction and post exertional malaise (PEM)—the exacerbation of symptoms following exertion, which can sometimes lead to a long-term deterioration—the cardinal symptom of ME. Patients with ME have one of the worst qualities of life of any disease: lower than various forms of cancer, multiple sclerosis or chronic renal failure.[2] The most severely affected patients are reliant on full-time care, sometimes becoming unable to speak or swallow, and may require hospital care to avoid dehydration and malnutrition. Since 2020 at least two million people in the UK have been affected by Long Covid. Approximately half of those affected meet the criteria for ME (though not all have been formally diagnosed), alongside those who have developed other long-term health issues following Covid infections.[3] For people with ME and Long Covid, accessing healthcare, whether for these or other conditions, can be challenging. PEM means that it can be difficult to receive care without risking a deterioration in symptoms, especially when reasonable adjustments are not made to minimise the exertion involved. A lack of knowledge, misunderstanding and stigma around the conditions exacerbate the issue, sometimes making patients reluctant to seek care and clinicians unlikely to understand the adjustments that are needed. Together, these and other barriers mean that people with ME and Long Covid may avoid, delay or be completely unable to seek the care they need, creating risks for patient safety. Difficulties accessing care at home A 2023 public consultation highlighted failures in the health service that included the accessibility of NHS care for people with ME—particularly for housebound or bedbound patients.[4] This was echoed by a 2024 #ThereForME survey of over 300 people with ME and Long Covid (and their carers).[5] Two-thirds of people responding to our survey said that the NHS had not been there for them when they needed it. The overall accessibility of care was highlighted as a core concern. Housebound patients answering our survey reported struggling to get access to home visits for monitoring and routine screenings or even remote/phone appointments. Patients reported delaying or avoiding seeking care as a result, or in some cases turning to private care as the only option to facilitate routine investigations. Learnings from care for other conditions can show how similar barriers have been addressed—for example, progress in care for people with learning disabilities.[6] Hospital systems and environments People with ME and Long Covid often experience difficulties navigating energy-intensive NHS systems and hospital environments. For many, the process of arranging and receiving medical care may go well beyond their limited energy envelope. This includes challenges like inflexible booking systems, appointments that are changed or cancelled at short notice, long journeys to medical appointments or needing to coordinate with multiple referrals and clinicians. Patients may delay seeking care, even in emergencies, due to the toll that a busy hospital environment is likely to take on their chronic symptoms. Particularly in A&E and inpatient care, busy waiting rooms and hospital wards may exacerbate sensitivity to noise, light and movement. Patients may be unable to sit upright in waiting rooms for long periods of time without their symptoms being exacerbated. While reasonable adjustments are key to accessibility,[7] and the 2021 NICE Guideline for ME/CFS outlines some adjustments that may be needed,[1] knowledge of the Guideline is limited in the NHS and the majority of NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards are not implementing it.[8] More widely, limited knowledge about ME, and similarly Long Covid,[9] means that patients don’t receive treatment that is sensitive to their symptoms—and, crucially, that avoids exacerbating them—because clinicians lack basic knowledge. People with ME and Long Covid, who are often particularly vulnerable to infections, may also avoid seeking healthcare due to concerns about acquiring infections. Many people with Long Covid report deterioration after Covid reinfections,[10] as the pandemic continues far from the headlines and with few measures in place to prevent airborne transmission. This may also impact the ability of family carers to access healthcare themselves, fearing acquiring an infection which could set back their loved one’s health. Trauma in healthcare Traumatic experiences in healthcare also play a role. Many patients with ME and Long Covid have experienced feeling dismissed or disbelieved, sometimes discouraging them from seeking care in future. The 2024 #ThereForME survey documented multiple cases of patients who said that, due to such experiences, they would be reluctant to seek NHS care even if experiencing life-threatening symptoms, expressing a sentiment that they would ‘rather die at home’ than seek healthcare in an emergency.[5] ME is significantly more common among women,[11] meaning that experiences of stigma linked to the condition overlap with gendered experiences of healthcare,[12] including how pain among women is routinely dismissed. Sharing your experiences We hope this blog has shone a spotlight on some of the challenges people with ME and Long Covid face when accessing care. If you have ME or Long Covid, or care for someone who does, we’re keen to hear about your experiences: Have there been times where you delayed or were unable to access the care you needed due to these or other challenges? Have you or the person you care for experienced an exacerbation of symptoms due to exertion involved in seeking healthcare? What would make the biggest difference to you to make care more accessible? Do you have any experiences to share where reasonable adjustments were made or a member of staff went out of their way to make it easier for you to access care? We’ll be collating the experiences shared and exploring what can be done about it. You can share your experience by posting in the Comments field below or join our conversation in the Community area of the hub. References NICE. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic794457 fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline [NG206], 29 October 2021. Falk Hvidberg M, et al. The Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). PLOS One, 2015; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132421. Dehlia MA, Guthridge MA. The persistence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Infection, 2024. Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions. Consultation outcome. Improving the experiences of people with ME/CFS: interim delivery plan, 9 August 2023. ThereForME. Building an NHS that’s there for Long Covid and ME, July 2024. Anderton M. Exploring deep sedation at home to support people with learning disabilities to access medical investigations with minimal distress. Patient Safety Learning, 17 July 2023. Brar P. Diagnostic safety: accessibility and adaptations–a (un)reasonable adjustment? Patient Safety Learning, 19 September 2024. Action for M.E. Patchy, Misunderstood and Overlooked Implementation of the NICE Guideline [NG206] on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in England Freedom of Information Findings Report, May 2023. Patient Safety Learning. Long Covid: Information gaps and the safety implications. Patient Safety Learning, 7 June 2021. WHO. Knocked back by COVID-19 reinfection – the experience of Abbie, a British nurse living with long COVID. World Health Organization, 30 November 2023. DecodeME. Initial findings from the DecodeME questionnaire data published, 24 August 2023. Anonymous. One hour with a women's health expert and finally I felt seen. Patient Safety Learning, 7 November 2024.
  20. Content Article
    In line with the Government Mandate, the 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance sets out a focused, smaller number of national priorities for 2025/26 with an emphasis on improving access to timely care for patients, increasing productivity and living within allocated budgets, and driving reform. To support this, systems will have greater control and flexibility over how they use local funding to best meet the needs of their local population. The national priorities to improve patient outcomes in 2025/26 are: Reduce the time people wait for elective care, improving the percentage of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for elective treatment to 65% nationally by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% point improvement. Systems are expected to continue to improve performance against the cancer 62-day and 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) to 75% and 80% respectively by March 2026. Improve A&E waiting times and ambulance response times compared to 2024/25, with a minimum of 78% of patients seen within 4 hours in March 2026. Category 2 ambulance response times should average no more than 30 minutes across 2025/26. Improve patients’ access to general practice, improving patient experience, and improve access to urgent dental care, providing 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments. Improve patient flow through mental health crisis and acute pathways, reducing average length of stay in adult acute beds, and improve access to children and young people’s (CYP) mental health services, to achieve the national ambition for 345,000 additional CYP aged 0 to 25 compared to 2019. In delivering on these priorities for patients and service users, ICBs and providers must work together, with support from NHS England, to: Drive the reform that will support delivery of our immediate priorities and ensure the NHS is fit for the future. For 2025/26 we ask ICBs and providers to focus on: Reducing demand through developing Neighbourhood Health Service models with an immediate focus on preventing long and costly admissions to hospital and improving timely access to urgent and emergency care. Making full use of digital tools to drive the shift from analogue to digital. Addressing inequalities and shift towards secondary prevention. Live within the budget allocated, reducing waste and improving productivity. ICBs, trusts and primary care providers must work together to plan and deliver a balanced net system financial position in collaboration with other integrated care system (ICS) partners. This will require prioritisation of resources and stopping lower-value activity. Maintain our collective focus on the overall quality and safety of our services, paying particular attention to challenged and fragile services including maternity and neonatal services, delivering the key actions of ‘Three year delivery plan’, and continue to address variation in access, experience and outcomes.
  21. Content Article
    The Patients Association have launched a new animation and guide to help you feel more prepared and confident when managing your care. They cover what to do before, during, and after appointments, with tips on communicating with healthcare professionals, sharing important information, and avoiding issues. These resources were co-designed with patients from diverse backgrounds to ensure they’re practical and useful.
  22. News Article
    Plans for an upgraded NHS App to allow more patients in England to book treatments and appointments will be part of a package of measures unveiled by the government on Monday. The changes will allow patients who need non-emergency elective treatment to choose from a range of providers, including those in the private sector. But the British Medical Association (BMA) said there was a risk the policy would "discriminate or alienate" patients who did not have access to digital technology. Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC on Sunday: "The NHS needs investment, but it also needs reform, otherwise we will not break this cycle of annual winter crises." The plan will set out how the government intends to meet one of its key election pledges - for more than 9 in 10 patients to have their treatment or be signed off within 18 weeks of a referral by the end of this parliament. Announcing the plan, he said the move would shift the NHS "into the digital age" and help cut waiting times "from 18 months to 18 weeks". The app would "put patients in the driving seat and treat them on time", and they would be "put in control of their own healthcare", the health secretary said. Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 January 2025
  23. News Article
    The government has unveiled a new pledge to cut the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year. The plan will expand access to Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs, alongside reforms designed to enhance patient choice and tackle inefficiencies. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would create millions more appointments and "deliver on our promise to end the backlogs". A key Labour election pledge, now included in the government's six main priorities, is for 92% of patients to begin treatment or be given the all-clear within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament. This has been an official NHS target for some time, but has not been met since 2015. Currently, only 59% of patients meet the 18-week target, with three million people waiting longer. The latest promise is to reach 65% by March 2026, which, according to the government, would reduce the backlog by more than 450,000. A network of Community Diagnostic Centres, which provide appointments such as scans and endoscopies in local neighbourhoods, will extend their opening hours to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. GPs will also be able, where appropriate, to refer patients directly to these centres without requiring a prior consultation with a specialist doctor. More surgical hubs will be created to focus on common, less complex procedures, such as cataract surgeries and some orthopaedic work. These hubs are ring-fenced from other parts of the hospital to ensure operating theatre time is not lost if there are emergency cases. The new plan says that one million unnecessary appointments per year will be freed up for patients who need them. This will be made possible by abolishing automatic review appointments after treatment and only offering them to patients who request them. Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 January 2025
  24. News Article
    Wes Streeting has vowed to scrap more than a million “pointless” NHS hospital appointments as he seeks to cut waiting lists. The Health Secretary said that “waste of time” hospital check-ups could be scrapped, which would free up consultants to carry out more operations. Officials say that around half of these routine check-ups could be phased out by making greater use of smart watches and wearable tech to monitor patients’ blood pressure levels remotely. The NHS plans will increasingly scrap the use of routine follow-up appointments after elective surgery – putting the onus on patients to decide if they need further checks. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Telegraph, 5 January 2025
  25. News Article
    Patients most "in need" should be able to see the same doctor at every appointment in their local GP surgery, the government says. GPs will be rewarded financially if they do this and if they go "above and beyond" preventing common killers like heart disease or treating high blood pressure early, it says. The measures are included in proposed changes to the GP contract in England - the government says it will add an extra £889m to the existing budget. The doctors' union, the BMA, which will now consult its members on the proposals, says GP practices have been worried about finances but this could provide "an important lifeline". The Royal College of GPs described the increase in budget as "positive news for patients and the wider NHS" and welcomed measures to tackle the "bureaucratic burden", but warned there was a long way to go. RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: "While we hope this package announced today will help stabilise general practice and provide some much-needed certainty for hardworking GPs and our teams, there is a long road ahead." Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, of the BMA, said GP practices across the country had been "frantic with worry" around the impact of the "crippling rise" in national insurance contributions from April. "Hopefully today's news provides an important lifeline for our 6,000 plus practices, and we are committed to reaching consensus around the management of the additional business pressures that practices will face in the new financial year," she said. She said she hoped the funding announcement "would be looked back on as a positive starting point for an evolving conversation" and looked forward to seeing further details. Read full story Source: BBC News, 20 December 2024
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