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Q: What is Patient Choice?
Q: Why would I want to choose which hospital treats me?
Q: What if I don't want to choose?
Q: What if I don't want to go to a different hospital?
Q: Is patient choice offered for all medical conditions?
Q: If I need treatment after my first appointment, will I be treated at the same hospital?
Q: Will I have to pay?
Q: Is there help available for my travel arrangements to get to hospital?
Q: Which hospital should I choose?
Q: What happens if I change my mind?
Q: Where can I get the information I need to help me make my choice?
Q: What is Choose and Book?
The NHS is changing to give you more choice about where and when you are treated and a greater say in how you are treated. When you have decided with your GP that you are going to see a specialist for further treatment you will be offered treatment from a list of at least four local hospitals or clinics.
If you choose which hospital you are treated in, you can make sure that you go to the place that will best suit your needs.
You do not have to make the decision yourself. If you prefer, your GP can still make the choice for you and recommend a hospital for your treatment.
You don't have to. If you would rather visit the hospital that you usually go to, then you can make that choice.
A choice of hospital is available for most medical conditions. However, not all hospitals treat every medical condition and some patients may need a more specialist service.
In most cases you will. But if you need very specialised treatment, you may have to go to another hospital.
No, not as an NHS patient. All the hospitals listed provide services to NHS patients. As long as you choose one of the choice options in your area, you won't have to pay.
If your GP or the person who has referred you determines that you have a medical need for transport to get to hospital, patient transport services should be provided. You may also have your travel expenses paid through the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme, if you get Jobseeker's Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Pension Credit.
The hospitals you can choose from will depend on the type of specialist you need to see. Our choice information pages show you which hospitals carry out the treatment you need and give other to help you make a choice that best suits you.
If you decide that you do not want to be treated at the hospital where you have your first appointment, you can go back to your GP, who will go through the other options available to you.
If you want to know something that isn't covered on our choice information pages, or you want more advice, you can talk to your GP or other local support services. You'll find the details of your local support services on your local choice options page. You may also want to talk things through with family and friends.
Choice booklets, which give information about your local choices are also available from you GP and can be downloaded from nhs.uk.
Choose and Book allows you to book your chosen appointment using a specialist electronic booking service. It also supports you if you are still deciding which hospital you want to go to.
If your GP or person referring you gives you a unique booking reference number you can access the service comparison screen, created by nhs.uk to support choice. This is available through the Choose and Book system and allows you to compare up to five services, to help you make an informed choice about where you want to be treated.
More information is available from the Choose and Book website.
For those with a unique booking reference number, access to the Choose and Book comparison screen is available via the HealthSpace website.
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