NHS E-REFERRAL SERVICE

The NHS run an e-Referral service which allows GPs to book outpatient and consultant appointments while the patient is with them. 

If you want time to consider your choices, you can take an Appointment Request letter which will contain a booking reference number and password for you to book your appointment via telephone or the internet. 

In some cases you will have more than one clinic or hospital to choose from. No patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks for a nonurgent, consultant-led treatments, from the day you booked your appointment though the NHS e-Referral Service, or when the hospital or service, received your referral letter. However, your right to an 18 week wait does depend on certain factors, such as you choose to wait longer, you fail to attend appointments, delay to the start of your treatment is your best clinical interests, the treatment is no longer necessary or it is clinically appropriate for your condition to be actively monitored in secondary care without clinical intervention or diagnostic procedures at that stage. 

In most cases you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you’d like to go to. This will include many private hospitals, as long as they provide services to the NHS. 

Any Qualified Provider

This scheme allows patients the right to choose a service that suits their needs. Since April 2012 the Department of Health has rolled out extended patient choice in specific medical and surgical services. 

You can check what is available in your area at www.nhs.uk. All available outsourced services have been checked by the Care Quality Commission and can deliver services within NHS Guidelines and prices. 

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs)

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs)  are partnership of organisations that have come together to plan and deliver a joined-up health and care service and improve the lives of people who live and work in their area. 

There are 42 ICS across England compromising of two components, the Integrated Care Partnership and the Integrated Care Board. The purpose is to all together improve outcomes in population health and healthcare, tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access, enhance productivity and value for money and help the NHS support broader social and economic development. 

By collaborating it will help health and care organisations tackle complex challenges, such as supporting people to stay well and independent, acting sooner to help those with preventable conditions, supporting long-term conditions and mental health issues, caring for people with multiple needs due to populations age and getting resources so people get care as quickly as possible.