As part of the drive to reduce elective waiting lists, patients who have been waiting over 40 weeks for treatment and do not have an appointment date within the next eight weeks, could be eligible to request to move to a different hospital to be treated sooner.
From October 31st we will contact those eligible and provide a weblink and telephone number to submit a request to explore their options.
Once a patient has submitted their details, including how far they are willing to travel, this will be reviewed. If a patient is deemed clinically and socially appropriate to move the process will then begin. If a patient opts to request to move (options are 50 miles, 100 miles or nationally) it is the role of the Black Country Integrated Care Board to make every effort to identify an appropriate alternative hospital. However, there may be circumstances in which it is not clinically appropriate to move to a different hospital or alternative capacity is not available.
- If there is no capacity available locally (within 50 or 100 miles) and a patient is willing to travel nationally, the details will be uploaded to the digital mutual aid system (PIDMAS) and other hospitals will be able to offer to treat the patient if appropriate.
- If an alternative provider is identified the patient is contacted and asked if they would like to proceed.
- If an alternative hospital isn’t found the patient will remain with their current provider and they will receive an appointment as soon as one becomes available.
