New NHS phone app designed to reduce waiting times across county
A new NHS[1] smartphone app has been designed to “avoid long wait times when you need urgent care” across Lincolnshire. The app, called ‘WaitLess’, can be downloaded on the App Store[2] and Google Play, allowing users to choose an emergency care service across the county with the lowest waiting times.
It comes as hundreds of appointments are being rescheduled across Lincolnshire due to a junior doctors’ strike from Tuesday, April 11 until Saturday, April 15. The app calculates the least pressured emergency care service[3] by combining current waiting times, queue numbers and travel times, along with information on each site’s parking and opening times.
All available pharmacies are also displayed on the app in your local area as an alternative treatment option. NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board said the app can help people make an informed decision on where to seek the fastest treatment for minor illnesses and injuries.
Poll – Do you support the strikes?[4]
New WaitLess NHS app designed to reduce waiting times (Image: NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board)
WaitLess currently only displays waiting times for facilities inside Lincolnshire. In Lincoln on Tuesday, April 11, the app shows Gainsborough Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) with a travel and wait time of one hour 52 minutes, Lincoln UTC with a travel and wait time of one hour 57 minutes and Louth UTC as a travel and wait time of two hours and 31 minutes, amongst other options with longer waiting times.
On Tuesday, April 11, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) announced that due to the industrial action taking place, it will be contacting patients to reschedule appointments. NHS England said the strikes pose an “additional challenge” due to being at the end of a long bank holiday and during school holidays.
WaitLess is free to download from the App Store and Google Play, if you search for WaitLess and click download.
References
- ^ NHS (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ App Store (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ emergency care service (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Poll – Do you support the strikes? (xd.wayin.com)