We have the legal right to choose our healthcare. - Really?
Discussion
According to NHS leaflets and websites, when a GP refers a patient to a hospital specialist, we apparently have the legal right to select a hospital and consultant, including private hospitals that provide services to the NHS.
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Is this really true, or is it another exageration, like the famous NHS 18 week promise;
18 weeks
This right only applies to patients that receive services commissioned by the NHS in England. The maximum waiting time for a knee and hip replacement is 18 weeks.
Have any PHers used this right of choice and then received a consultation and surgery in a private hospital, as an NHS patient?
If so, I would be grateful for any guidance, about the circumstances of how your choice was granted.
Thank you.
This is NHS E-Referral, which was NHS Choose and Book (introduced by New Labour as part of patient choice and a means of cutting waiting lists).
I’ve been so long under a consultant that I haven’t had to use it recently.
I know others who have done this and see their consultant at a private hospital. Remember though, that whatever the surroundings look like, it’s still the same NHS service. This isn’t a back door way to get private levels of patient care/customer service.
Most of the NHS works on a contracting basis - mainly GPs who are private, profit-making businesses who have contracts with the NHS.
I’ve been so long under a consultant that I haven’t had to use it recently.
I know others who have done this and see their consultant at a private hospital. Remember though, that whatever the surroundings look like, it’s still the same NHS service. This isn’t a back door way to get private levels of patient care/customer service.
Most of the NHS works on a contracting basis - mainly GPs who are private, profit-making businesses who have contracts with the NHS.
Bill said:
It's not to any private consultant, only those contracted to the NHS (so working extra to clear the backlog.) But apart from that caveat loads of people are.
Thank you for your reply Bill.
I know the private hospital (been there for a different matter) and they do provide NHS services.
The consultant is based at an NHS hospital and also that private hospital.
The NHS e-Referral Service makes it sound as though we can simply make our own arrangements using our own computer and the NHS pays, but it cannot be that simple. Surely our GPs have to be involved at the outset. I am imagining that they are the 'gatekeepers', holding the keys to the NHS money.
Our GP surgery operates the system and has done for many years. You do need to ask though. My wife has had several referrals for major and minor surgery through the choose and book system. Always chose the private hospital that suited and has always had treatment within the 18 weeks. It is a genuine system and cannot recommend it highly enough.
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