English hospitals may deal with sufferers from Scotland and Wales as backlog grows

Patients in Scotland and Wales may very well be provided remedy in English hospitals after Health Secretary Steve Barclay accused devolved governments led by opposition events of failing to chop ready lists.

He has written to Welsh and Scottish well being ministers declaring that the NHS in England has nearly abolished waits of greater than two years – whereas the opposite nations have didn’t observe swimsuit.

Health in Wales is run by the Labour devolved administration whereas in Scotland it’s the duty of the SNP Government.

Mr Barclay mentioned within the letter: “We must continue to take steps to support the NHS and reduce waiting times to ensure no part of the UK is left behind.

“I am therefore concerned by the variation in performance across NHS services.”

The variety of sufferers ready greater than 18 months in England has fallen to 7,177, from a post-Covid excessive of 123,969 in 2021.

But 73,000 persons are ready greater than 77 weeks in Wales, and 21,600 persons are ready over 78 weeks for an outpatient, day case or inpatient appointment in Scotland.

Patients in Scotland and Wales are often not mechanically eligible for non-emergency healthcare in England.

But Mr Barclay mentioned within the letter: “I would also be open to considering any request from you for patients waiting for lengthy periods for treatment in Scotland and Wales to be able to choose from alternate providers in England – NHS or independent sector – in line with the approach we are taking here, and building on the existing arrangements for cross-border healthcare.”

Other nations may observe the instance of NHS England, which provides sufferers the authorized proper to decide on their supplier for a lot of therapies, together with personal healthcare companies that meet NHS requirements and prices, he mentioned.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies mentioned: “Sir Keir Starmer has said the Welsh Labour Government is his ‘blueprint’ for the whole of the UK. That couldn’t be a more terrifying prospect.”

While the variety of individuals experiencing the longest waits has fallen in England, whole NHS ready lists are at a file excessive. Data revealed by NHS England exhibits 7.6 million individuals have been ready to start out remedy on the finish of June, up from 7.5 million in May.