local access policy

Cotswold Surgical Partners is committed to delivering Quality Care that is Locally Delivered.

For our NHS patients referred via the Electronic Referral Service (ERS) funded by Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board and NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board we have introduced an ‘Elective Patient Access Policy’ which:

Sets out the rules and principles under which the service manages elective access to outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and elective inpatient or day case treatment.
Gives staff clear direction on the application of the NHS constitution in relation to elective waiting times.
Demonstrates how elective access rules should be applied consistently, fairly and equitably.

Cotswold Surgical Partners developed this ‘Elective Patient Access Policy’ following consultation with staff, NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, General Practitioners and Clinical Leads. It will be reviewed and ratified annually or earlier if there are changes to national elective access rules or locally agreed principles.

To request a copy of this policy, please email below:

Request a copy of CSPP091 by emailing csp.getintouch@nhs.net.

A patient friendly guide to the NHS Constitution is detailed on NHS Choices via this link with further information on waiting times:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/guide-to-nhs-waiting-times-in-england/

The purpose of this policy is to ensure all patients requiring access to outpatient appointments, diagnostics and elective day-case treatment are managed equitably and consistently, in line with national waiting time standards and the NHS Constitution.

The policy:

Is designed to ensure the management of elective patient access to services is transparent, fair, equitable and managed according to clinical priorities.
Sets out the principles and rules for managing patients through their elective care pathways
Applies to all clinical and administrative staff and services relating to elective patient access at Cotswold Surgical Partners.

The NHS has set maximum waiting time standards for elective access to healthcare. In England, waiting time standards for elective care (including cancer) come under two headings:

The individual patient rights (as in the NHS Constitution).
The standards by which individual providers and commissioners are held accountable by NHS Improvement and NHS England.

The NHS Constitution clearly sets out a series of pledges and rights stating what patients, the public and staff can expect from the NHS. A patient has the right to the following:

Choice of hospital and consultant
To begin their treatment for routine conditions following a referral into a consultant-led service, within a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks to treatment.
To be seen by a cancer specialist within a maximum of two weeks from a GP referral for urgent referrals where cancer is suspected.

If this is not possible, the NHS has to take all reasonable steps to offer a range of alternatives.

Cotswold Surgical Partners is obligated to provide Referral To Treatment (RTT) treatment within 18 weeks for 92% of all patients. There are certain exceptions where patients choose to wait longer however the RTT clock continues.

Patients can choose to move between NHS and private status at any point during their treatment without prejudice.

Cotswold Surgical Partners have an obligation to identify patients who are not eligible for free NHS treatment and specifically to assess liability for charges in accordance with Department of Health guidance/rules.

The service will check every patient’s eligibility for treatment. Therefore, at the first point of entry, patients will be asked questions that will help assess “ordinarily resident status”. Some visitors from abroad, who are not ordinarily resident, may receive free healthcare, including those who:

Have paid the immigration health surcharge
Have come to work or study in the UK
Have been granted or made an application for asylum.

For further information, to discuss your treatment or a referral, please contact us using our ‘Contact Us’ page or as above and we will be happy to help.