The UK Government has announced the expansion of the Advice and Guidance scheme, a move set to transform patient care by shifting focus from hospital to community settings.
This initiative is expected to help patients receive timely care without the need to join lengthy NHS waiting lists.
The Advice and Guidance scheme encourages general practitioners (GPs) to collaborate closely with hospital specialists, allowing them to quickly access expert advice.
The government has committed to increasing the use of this system, setting a goal to divert up to two million patients from elective waiting lists by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year.
To support this expansion, the NHS is implementing payments to GPs nationwide, aiming to eliminate the previous patchy provision and end the postcode lottery affecting patient care.
This expansion is part of a broader investment strategy, with the government allocating £26bn ($34.42bn) to the NHS, which includes funding the £80m expansion of the Advice and Guidance service.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “This scheme is a perfect example of how we are saving patients' time and reducing pressure on key NHS services in the process.
“It will take time to reverse the damaging neglect the NHS has suffered in recent years, but our Plan for Change is starting to deliver benefits for patients, with waiting lists cut by 219,000 since July, and 1,500 new GPs in post.”
The service establishes a communication channel between GPs and hospital specialists before patients are added to hospital waiting lists.
This enables patients to receive necessary tests and treatments through their GP or community services.
Patients with various conditions, including those seeking gynaecological care or experiencing ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues, are poised to benefit from this expansion.
The government's plan to reform and rebuild the NHS includes the ambition for 92% of patients to wait less than 18 weeks for treatment by the end of this Parliament.
Earlier this month, the UK Government also announced investments in the NHS to reduce wait times for cancer diagnoses.
