'Talk Before You Walk' Scheme Could Mean Patients Have To Get Permission To Go To A&E

In plans that are reportedly being considered by Britain's Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, patients could be banned from going to A&E unless they have a referral from their GP.

The Mirror reports that the scheme is called 'talk before you walk' and would mean you couldn't turn up without seeking prior advice.

The aim, according to Dr Helen Thomas, who's a national medical adviser for integrated urgent care at NHS England, is to cut what is considered as unnecessary visits to A&E.

Jeremy Hunt gives a speech at the Conservative Party Conference. Credit: PA

There are arguments for and against, of course, with many pointing out that the purpose of A&E is that you can go at anytime, however, this drives up the waiting times for everyone who goes.

"Jeremy Hunt has mentioned to some of my colleagues, maybe we should have 'talk before you walk' and we may well pilot that," Thomas told Pulse, a doctor's magazine, adding that talks are in a very early stage.

"It's been done in other countries where they've actually said you can't come until you've talked about a referral.

"I think it's been done in other countries where they've actually said you can't come into ED (emergency departments) until you've talked on referral, or you have to have that sort of docket that you're given by having talked on the phone that you do need to come to ED."

Credit: PA

She also commented at an Urgent Health UK conference that of 100 patients going to A&E 'only 20 have called 111', NHS' emergency helpline, before going.

She added: "The other 80: some will need emergency help but an awful lot won't."

The chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, commented on the proposed plan, disagreeing that'll be a good move.

Earlier in the year MPs said delays in handing ambulance patients to A&E departments are getting worse. Credit: PA

"Trying to solve a problem in one part of the NHS by shifting it to another won't work," he said. "Pressure on emergency departments is down to seriously ill patients and a lack of capacity and NHS funding."

Despite the initial talks, a source reportedly told The Guardian that rather than there being a formal plan, it's just a 'pie in the sky possibility' that Pulse, who Thomas spoke to, have 'majorly overblown'.

Topics: UK News, NHS

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.