WGPlus (Archive)
| NHS Digital; An alternative to ‘waiting at a red light’! |
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A pilot system is now making it easier for GPs to understand the waiting times at hospitals for their patients. The e-traffic light system could help reduce hospital waiting times while offering patients a clearer choice of treatment and is set to be rolled out across the country after a successful NHS trial. A tweak to the GP referral system sees a red light appear against a hospital with longer waiting times while a green light shows those with spare capacity, meaning doctors can offer patients potentially quicker routes to treatment and help them make more informed choices. Results from two London trials have been promising – red lights reduced referrals to overbooked hospitals by nearly 40%, while green lights increased referrals to hospitals with available capacity by 14% this winter. The Capacity Alert system was developed after NHS England commissioned the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) to come up with ways of helping hospital trusts ease pressure on services. Following the success of the trials in North East and South West London, BIT is now supporting the roll-out of the Capacity Alert system across the NHS in England. |
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NHS Digital: Patients get the green light for smarter choices after latest GP pilot - The Behavioural Insights Team Green means go: how to help patients make informed choices about their healthcare NHS Digital: Chief Nurse hails ‘great opportunity to use technology’ in new report Innovate UK: Oxehealth - Developing a better way to care for dementia patients ScotGov: Patients To Benefit From New Technology WAG: A Digital Vision for the Valleys NHS England; Not all is ‘doom & gloom’ in the NHS Technology at heart of a future ‘improved & cost efficient’ NHS Gauging where we are with a paper-free NHS – Paul Rice Innovate UK: New stress-reducing wristband 'doppel' reaches first backers |
