Virtual wards and pop-up clinics in communities are among a host of ideas being trialled across the NHS to clear record waiting lists.
With a treatment backlog of around five million appointments, a host of ideas will now be tried and those that work will form a blueprint for the post-Covid NHS.
They include “Super Saturday” clinics where multi-disciplinary teams come together at the weekend to offer more specialist appointments.
Virtual wards will see patients discharged earlier and given after care from medics online or over the phone.
Other ideas include 3D eye scanners, artificial intelligence (AI) in GP surgeries, at-home antibiotic kits and ‘pre-hab’ for patients about to undergo surgery.
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The new ways of working will be trialled in a dozen NHS areas in England and five specialist children’s hospitals.
Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said, “The pandemic has been truly awful for all of us.
“But as the pressure begins to ease and we start to build back our NHS we need to capture some of the good that came out of the last 12 months – be that through better use of technology, streamlined appointment booking, more efficient ways of working.”
The trials will cost £160 million and take place across 12 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) including South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, North East and Cumbria, and Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Tens of thousands of patients will benefit from initiatives at these “Accelerator Sites”, including high-volume cataract services, one stop testing facilities and better access to specialist advice for GPs.
Pop-up clinics will see patients seen and discharged closer to home.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Operating Officer, said: “The additional support announced today will help us create a blueprint for continuing that progress over summer and beyond.”
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Trust leaders are telling us that in the places with the biggest challenge getting through the backlog could on current trajectories take between three to five years.
“We know this is unacceptable and that the NHS needs to develop a bold, radical, plan to go a lot faster, with appropriate extra funding from the government.
“Once this blueprint has been created it will be vital for Government to provide the required funding.”
