The NHS has been working hard to address the backlogs built up during the COVID pandemic. As part of these plans, the NHS will be proactively contacting patients who have been waiting a long time for NHS funded treatment to remind them of their right to request to move to an alternative hospital where they may be seen quicker.

From Tuesday 31st October new digital portal called the Patient Initiated Digital Mutual Aid System (PIDMAS) will be introduced. Patients who have been waiting 40 weeks or more can use this portal to request an alternative choice of hospital.

Any patient who is eligible will receive either a SMS text message or a letter from their current hospital explaining how to request to choose a different hospital.

Please do not contact the practice regarding this process as we have no information regarding individual patients.

The hospital will contact you if you are eligible. Please do not contact them either.

Further information about alternative choice is available on hospital websites.

Most referrals to other specialists will require you seeing or speaking with a GP, however, there are a number of services locally, listed below that you are able to make self-referrals to.

TALKING THERAPIES

Talking therapies can help you with feelings of stress, low mood and worry. Your local IAPT team offers talking therapies. They are there to help you lift your mood. We encourage anyone who is finding life’s daily demands difficult to reach out. When you get in touch, there may be a waiting list. The IAPT team will let you know if this is the case and what to expect. You can find out more and refer yourself on the IAPT Website or speak to your GP or First Contact Mental Health Worker at the surgery, when you feel ready.