CHOICE in the NHS - improving the patient and user experience

What is Choice?
Research and feedback from patients and the public show that patients, users and carers want to share in decisions about the treatment and care that is appropriate to them and not have to wait too long for that treatment. Much is already being done. Over the next few years more and more patients requiring planned (often referred to as elective) surgery will have the choice over the hospital in which they receive their treatment. In social care users are involved in decisions about the services they receive or can even receive direct payments to enable them to buy the support they need.

Services will become more responsive as they adapt to the choices that patients make, responding to the needs of patients and users.

There is already much good practice locally and many schemes where patients are involved. A national initiative offering choice of hospital is already being implemented for those waiting over 6 months for planned surgery. From December 2005 choice of hospital will be offered at GP referral.

National Consultation
To develop CHOICE further, government has launched a national consultation. Full details and information on how to feedback your views are available on www.doh.gov.uk/choiceconsultation The deadline for feedback is 11th November 2003.

Please take part and make a difference.