New programme for NHS waiting lists

The NHS had launched a new programme called the Patient Initiated Digital Mutual Aid System(PIDMAS). This aims to reduce NHS waiting by offering patients the opportunity to move to a different hospital that can give quicker care or treatment.

At first this will be for patients who have been waiting over 40 weeks, for a first appointment or for a planned procedure, and who do not have an appointment or any treatment scheduled within the next 8 weeks.

Local NHS providers will contact all eligible patients and make them aware of how they can register their request to move .

There will be some instances where no alternative hospital can be found - these patients will be contacted and informed.

Once a patient has moved their treatment to a new hospital this will mean that all follow up and associated care will also move as well.   All future appointments relating to the condition in question will be with the new provider – it will not be possible to transfer back to the original provider once the transfer has been made.