More Choice For NHS Patients Across The Country

NHS patients will have more freedom to choose where they go for their healthcare from April 2012, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.

More choice will mean that when patients are referred for selected services, usually by their GP, they should be able to choose from a range of qualified providers who meet NHS quality, prices and contracts.

These providers could be NHS providers, independent sector providers, or voluntary or third sector organisations. This will enable patients to choose the provider best-placed to meet their individual needs and help to drive-up the quality of services for everyone.

To date, choice has only been available in non-urgent hospital care, but guidance published today sets out that the choice offer will be extended to community and mental health services for the first time. Following advice from patient groups, clinicians and voluntary organisations, there are eight services that have been recommended as the most suitable. These include: Services for back and neck pain; Adult hearing services in the community; Diagnostic tests closer to home; and Wheelchair services (children).

Every area across England will be expected to offer more choice in a minimum of three services by September 2012 – either from the recommended list or for another community or mental health service that is a high local priority. The number of services will be expanded further from April 2013.

Andrew Lansley said: “This is a big day for patients, real choice over how and where they are treated is becoming a reality. There is often confusion about these policies, a mistaken idea that competition is there for the sake of it, or to increase the independent sector’s role in the NHS.

“But let’s look at what this is really about: it’s about children getting wheelchairs more quickly. It’s about people with mental health conditions choosing to receive their care somewhere closer to home. It’s about older people being able to choose a service that will come to their home - perhaps the vital difference between staying at home or having to move into care. It’s about real choices for people over their care, leading to better results.

“We are taking a phased approach, offering choice for services where it will improve outcomes, responding to the recommendation of the NHS Future Forum which supported the Government’s policy to offer patients greater choice of provider.”

(BMcN/GK)