System-side elective care access policy

To support local health providers to manage patient access to certain services, the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System has developed a system-wide Elective Care Access Policy.

The new policy sets out the elective access rules for outpatient and cancer appointments, diagnostics, and elective inpatient or day case treatment, supporting equitable and fair access to services for people regardless of where they live in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

As one standardised system-wide policy, it brings together and replaces similar policies already in place within each of the local providers which all describe a slightly different approach, so that all organisations can work to one shared set of rules and principles to ensure a consistent approach across the whole county.

As well as unifying the existing local policies, including engagement with local clinicians, they have been aligned to national mandated standards and rules which were developed in consultation with the public.

The policy was shared as a draft with our population and health and care staff working across the local system. As a result of feedback received, the wording of the policy was amended slightly.

To read the policy, please click here.