The RCP has responded to this month’s NHS performance stats, saying that services such as GP Advice and Guidance can aid outpatient recovery – but only if clinicians are given the time and support to deliver them.
Dr Mumtaz Patel, Royal College of Physicians’ president, said:
'It’s encouraging to see signs of progress in today’s NHS performance data – including a fall in the overall waiting list in England and the highest proportion of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks since July 2022.
'This progress is a testament to staff’s hard work – but with waiting lists still at 7.4 million, there is much further to go to meet the targets that government has set itself. Our NHS workforce will be critical to achieving these, so it is vital that a solution is found on planned industrial action by resident doctors.'
Dr Theresa Barnes, Royal College of Physicians’ clinical lead for outpatients, said:
'It’s promising to see continued growth in the use of pre-referral specialist advice services such as GP Advice & Guidance (A&G). We welcomed expansion of the scheme earlier this year, reflecting one of the key recommendations in our Prescription for Outpatients report.
'A record 276,823 requests were made in May, and 99% of GP practices are now signed up to the scheme. The £20 payment to GPs per request introduced in the elective recovery plan may have driven uptake in the use of specialist advice and guidance. Today’s figures show that between July 2024 and March this year, more than 1 million patients were routed away from joining the waiting list for treatment – a 12% improvement compared to the same period in the previous year.
'A&G ensures patients get timely care delivered by the right person in the right setting and helps manage patients more effectively while easing the burden on outpatient clinics. It is a key part of delivering the hospital-to-community shift set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. But this increasing demand must be matched with adequate time and support for the clinicians receiving these requests. Our own snapshot survey of physicians earlier this year showed that nearly half of consultants providing A&G don’t have time built into their job plans to do so – and that simply isn’t sustainable.
'To deliver the best patient outcomes, we need to invest both in new integrated pathways, and in the people who deliver them. That means making sure clinicians are equipped with adequate time and space to provide safe and timely advice.'