The £80m scheme allows GPs to ask clinicians following an appointment whether patients need to be treated in hospital or referred to wider community services instead, such as dietitians, physiotherapists and sexual health experts.

Health minister Stephen Kinnock said: ‘Over 100,000 people have avoided unnecessary hospital queues because GPs are bypassing waiting lists and going direct to specialists for expert advice. It means quicker care for patients closer to home, less pressure on hospitals and more time for doctors to focus on those who need them most.'

Since the launch of £20 referral incentives in April, 99% of GPs have now signed up, with 21% more patients benefitting in the South West, 8% more in the North East and Yorkshire and an extra 8% in London.

The number of patients bypassing waiting lists through this system and benefiting from earlier specialist support increased by 14% in 2024/25 compared with the previous financial year.

The scheme supports the Government's 10 Year Health Plan to move more care from hospital to community and its target of increasing diversions from elective waiting lists to up to 2m by the end of 2025-26.