NHS mulling ‘radical ideas’ to cut waiting list of 5.8m

PATIENTS could be asked to travel ‘relatively short distances’ for preplanned hospital treatment as a record 5.8million people are on waiting lists for care, NHS Providers said.

The number of post-operative follow-up appointments could also be cut as ‘radical ideas’ were considered, said chief executive Chris Hopson.

NHS chiefs also faced calls to deliver an emergency plan to support ambulance services over winter. The Liberal Democrats said all ten English ambulance trusts were at the highest alert level – level four – on October 22.