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<p>The Elective Recovery Taskforce heard that service planning in the independent
sector, including to help reduce waiting times, is best informed by close working
relationships with local systems and confidence in patient flows. To better inform
planning and capacity utilisation in the independent sector, we are working with NHS
England to enhance the patient choice offer. At the point of referral, patients will
be actively offered a list of providers, including local independent sector providers,
which are clinically appropriate for their condition.</p><p>From October 2023, all
patients waiting over 40 weeks who have not had a first outpatient appointment booked,
or where a decision to treat a patient has been made but the patient does not have
a date for their treatment, will be able to initiate a request to transfer to another
provider via the Patient Initiated Digital Mutual Aid System. This will include independent
sector providers where appropriate.</p><p>To reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests,
NHS England recently announced 13 Community Diagnostic Centres run by the independent
sector, creating capacity, and enabling treatments to be started sooner.</p>
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