Patient choice - Choosing another hospital

NHS England have asked all hospitals to contact patients who have been waiting over 40 weeks for their appointment or treatment.  They want us to ask if they would like to consider moving to another health care partner in England who may be able to treat them more quickly.

From Tuesday 31 October 2023 we will be sending an SMS text message to our patients who:

• waiting over 40 weeks
• are over 18 years old
• and do not have a booked appointment.

"York & Scarborough Hospitals NHS - We are sorry that you have been waiting over 40 weeks for your [Specialty] appointment/treatment. You may wish to consider moving to another hospital who may be able to provide your treatment sooner. There is further information on our website https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/your-visit/alternative-patient-choice/.  If you wish to be considered to move to another hospital for your care please submit your details via www.pidmas.nhs.uk.  If you need support to complete this, please contact the NHS National Helpline on 0345 4506166."

To explore moving your care to another hospital, register your interest on the NHS link here: www.pidmas.nhs.uk

It is entirely up to you if you would like us to look for an alternative hospital. 

We are sorry we cannot say how long you will wait for treatment in our Trust.  There are currently long wait times for some appointments, operations and procedures.

Patients are prioritised by our doctors, according to their health needs.

We are working hard to reduce waiting times.  The NHS has set a target that patients will wait no more than 65 weeks by April 2024 and no more than 52 weeks by April 2025.

If I do not want to move to another hospital, what happens next?

To stay on our waiting list at York and Scarborough Hospitals Trust, you do not need to do anything.  You will stay on our waiting list and we will contact you in due course.

If I want to move to another hospital, what happens next?

When you register your details on the link www.pidmas.nhs.uk we first check with your clinical team for any reasons why you can’t move to another hospital.

You need to know that if you want to move to another hospital, and we can find a suitable one, you move for the whole of your care pathway until treatment is complete.  So, you need to be prepared to travel to that hospital not just for the operation or treatment, but all future appointments. We will ask how far you are willing to travel so we can search for services that fit your needs.

We will then look for other hospitals who can see you for the speciality you need.  In the meantime, you will stay on our waiting list, and we will contact you with a date if one becomes available.

We may not be able to find another hospital that can see you sooner.

There are significant pressures across the NHS.  If we can’t find an alternative within four weeks, you will remain with York & Scarborough Trust for your future care and we will keep you informed.

How can I get help to register for another hospital?

If you need help to register on the secure NHS website, please ring the NHS national helpline number 0345 4506166.