New analysis from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) has found that NHS patients in England can cut up to three months off their waiting times by traveling an average of just 12 miles, or 25 minutes by car, to alternative hospitals.
The study, which confirms similar findings published in a joint report by IHPN and the Patients Association in 2022, highlights significant variation in waiting time within regions.
In the south west, patients waiting for trauma and orthopaedics treatment are waiting an average of 23 weeks at some providers and just nine weeks at others. Meanwhile, waits for ophthalmic care in the east of England vary from just over three weeks to as long as 17 weeks, while waits for gynaecology care in the north west vary from 10.9 to 23.5 weeks.
According to polling conducted by Savanta for IHPN, 71% of people would be happy to travel more than 30 minutes outside of their local area to get treatment more quickly. Just 5% of respondents said they would not travel outside their local area to get quicker treatment from the NHS. New data published in the report shoes that 96% of the English population live within a 30-minute drive of an independent healthcare provider.
IHPN CEO David Hare, said awareness of patient choice remains low despite being a long-established policy.
‘With NHS waiting lists still unacceptably high, the new government must do more to ensure the public are fully aware of the wide range of healthcare providers – both NHS and private – where they can receive treatment in their local area, free at the point of use,’ he said. ‘This will not only help patients access the quickest possible NHS treatment and lead happier, healthier lives, but also help cut the record high NHS backlog.’
Chief executive of the Patients Association Rachel Power added: ‘ Patients support the right to choose where they receive their NHS treatment and seven out of ten are willing to travel outside their local area to be treated. We’d like to see health professionals letting patients know they can choose where they have their care and supporting them to make a choice that is best for that patient.’
©2024 All rights reserved LaingBuisson 
 has found that NHS patients in England can cut up to three months off their waiting times by traveling an average of just 12 miles, or 25 minutes by car, to alternative hospitals.){kind=link}