Millions of pounds could be paid by GPs to clear waiting lists
By Liz Lockhart
Last year it was revealed that tens of thousands of GPs’ patients were waiting more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment. This is after the Government’s decision to scrap performance management of this 18 week target.
GPs were warned that the rise could leave them at risk of being sued by patients when they took over the commissioning as being treated within 18 weeks remains a patient’s right under the NHS Constitution.
Last year the number of patients who did not receive treatment within 18 weeks of referral jumped by 15% between July and September. This rise occurred after Primary Care Trusts were released from their obligation to meet the target in June.
This week The Pulse has exclusively reported that private companies have been paid tens of millions of pounds to care for patients who launched challenges during the first year of the NHS Constitution after not receiving treatment within 18 weeks of GP referral.
According to The Pulse managers have paid £40m to private firms after complaints made under the terms of the constitution from patients on waiting lists and an estimated £100m if this is expanded across England.
The report goes on to say that nearly 20,000 patients have been treated at private facilities run by companies. Trusts also spent £200,000 to send patients abroad for treatment in other European countries. Patients are entitled to demand this under the NHS Constitution if treatment cannot be provided by the NHS within a reasonable time frame.
‘Under the NHS Constitution, patients have a legal right to receive their first treatment within 18 weeks of referral, whether delivered by usual NHS providers or the independent sector’ said a spokesperson for the Department of Health. ‘Primary Care Trusts already spent £400m on private-sector treatments under patient choice obligations.’
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