A new UK government scheme aims to reduce NHS waiting lists by encouraging GPs to refer patients to out-of-hospital settings, with each successful referral worth £20.
The UK government has launched a new scheme to encourage GPs in England to refer patients to out-of-hospital settings, such as health clinics or community-based specialists. Under the initiative, family doctors will be able to claim £20 each time they decide not to send a patient to hospital for non-urgent care.
General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in delivering primary healthcare services.
To motivate and reward their efforts, various GP incentives have been introduced worldwide.
These incentives aim to improve patient outcomes, increase vaccination rates, and enhance preventive care.
For instance, the UK's Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) provides financial rewards for GPs meeting specific targets on chronic disease management and health promotion.
Similarly, in Australia, the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) offers bonuses for participating in quality improvement activities.
The scheme aims to help reduce the large waiting list for NHS care, particularly among women with menopausal symptoms and those suffering from common conditions such as ear wax, tinnitus, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). By diverting patients to out-of-hospital settings, GPs hope to free up hospital capacity and provide faster care.
The National Health Service (NHS) waiting lists refer to the number of patients awaiting treatment in England. As of 2022, over 7 million people are on the waiting list, with some patients waiting up to 52 weeks or more for non-urgent treatments. The main causes include increased demand, staff shortages, and COVID-19 pandemic disruptions. Efforts are being made to reduce wait times through investment in new technologies and recruitment of additional staff.
GPs will be able to claim £20 for each patient referred to an out-of-hospital setting, such as a health clinic or community-based specialist. The payment is part of the existing ‘advice and guidance’ scheme, which has been expanded to cover all of England from this month onwards.
Ministers believe that the scheme will help reduce the size of the waiting list for planned hospital care, increasing the number of patients treated elsewhere and reducing the headline size of the ‘referral to treatment’ queue. The government hopes that this will also contribute to one of its key healthcare goals: moving a lot of care out of hospitals into community settings.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has negotiated the £20-a-head deal with ministers, citing it as an important step in acknowledging the role of GPs and supporting practices to deliver enhanced care. However, Beccy Baird, a senior fellow at the King’s Fund thinktank, warns that the approach could have unintended consequences, such as delays in referral and increased administrative burden for both general practice and hospital care.
2 million patients per year may benefit from faster care due to this initiative. 580,000 patients are already waiting on the NHS gynaecological services waiting list. 6.24 million patients are waiting for 7.4 million appointments, tests, or operations in hospital-based care.
The new scheme aims to boost GP involvement in community care and provide faster, more efficient care for patients. While there may be some unintended consequences, the initiative has the potential to make a significant impact on reducing NHS waiting lists and improving patient outcomes.
General Practitioner (GP) community care refers to the primary healthcare services provided by GPs to patients in their local communities.
GPs play a crucial role in delivering preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care to individuals and families.
They work closely with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care, often coordinating referrals to specialists when necessary.
In the UK, GP community care is typically delivered through General Practice surgeries, which are usually staffed by a team of GPs, nurses, and administrative personnel.
