The NHS has launched a new platform to help retired consultants return to the health service.

The NHS is encouraging retired doctors to return by making it easier and more flexible for staff in a bid to bring down long waits for elective care.

The NHS Emeritus pilot scheme will initially run for a year across England and help to bring down waits for elective care. If successful it has the potential to be expanded.

Following a full registration process, it is hoped that Emeritus consultants will be able to carry out appointments from next month.

There is a cloud-based platform which will link recently retired consultants with secondary care providers who need additional help with their waiting lists.

Stella Vig, NHS national clinical director for elective care, said: “The NHS prides itself on its hard-working and committed staff, and it is often the most experienced and knowledgeable clinicians who are lost to the NHS once they retire, even though they still have a lot more they can give to benefit patients.

“Many have said they want to be able to keep giving back to the health service once they have retired, but in a more flexible way – through the NHS Emeritus initiative, we can provide an opportunity for consultants to continue to work in the NHS in a way that fits in with their life and schedule, and ensures the NHS can still benefit from their skills and knowledge, whether that be through providing training and education, or continuing to see patients and help add much-needed capacity as we work toward our aims of bringing down the longest waits for elective care.

“It’s a simple concept, but one that we hope will benefit everyone taking part – and we envisage that this is just the beginning, with the potential to broaden NHS Emeritus out to a wider cohort and to include different types of work in the future, which could benefit thousands of patients across the country.”

Health Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “The first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out how we will put the NHS on a sustainable footing and address existing vacancies.

“Returning consultants will bring invaluable experience and knowledge, and the new digital platform will match highly-skilled consultants with the NHS trusts that require their expertise, providing high quality care and alleviating pressures on high demand areas.

“This will help us cut waiting lists – one of the government’s five priorities.”