North Cumbria Integrated Care will use a private firm to help them work through the backlog of patients waiting to be seen by the Cumberland Infirmary. 

HBSUK has been enlisted by NCIC to support efforts to reduce the backlog in the Cumberland Infirmary's urology and neurology departments.

It is costing NCIC £168,290 to use the service which will see 1,200 patients. 

A spokesman for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Urology department at the Cumberland Infirmary is now using a private firm HBSUK to help work through the backlog of people waiting to be seen. 

"HBSUK is a fully accredited healthcare provider that already works with other NHS trusts and Integrated Care Systems.

“It will support the backlog reduction of the urology waiting list and ensure patients are seen in a timely manner."

As of March 2024, there were 107 patients who had been waiting longer than 62 weeks for treatment - most of these were within the urology and neurology departments. 

HBSUK offers a virtual service that will give patients a quick and efficient assessment by experienced neurologists and urologists. 

It is hoped that it will reduce waiting times and demands on the existing capacity at the hospital as well as highlight urgent patients that are sitting on routine lists.