The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7404 p670
10 June 2006

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Patients to have more choice

NHS patients now have a wider choice of NHS hospitals to go to when referred for specialist treatment. Soon they will also be able to choose independent sector treatment centres as well.

Announcing an extension of the patient choice network to include all NHS foundation trusts last week, health minister Andy Burnham said: “Since the beginning of the year NHS patients have been given the kind of choices only previously available to those who could afford it.”

At the same time, Mr Burnham announced a Department of Health report, saying: “This report shows that patients value being able to choose where to go for their treatment and the convenience of choosing the time and date of their appointment.”