Choose and Book
Patient choice in the NHSResearch has shown that patients want to be more involved in making decisions and choosing their healthcare. Most of the patients who are offered a choice of hospital view the experience as positive and valuable.
So, the NHS is changing to give you more choice and flexibility in how you are treated. Choose and Book is one of the first schemes that brings about this change, allowing you to choose the hospital where you will be seen by a specialist.
From 1 January 2006, when you and your GP agree that you need to see a specialist, you will be able to choose from at least four hospitals or clinics. You will also be able to choose the date and time of your appointment.
Information to support your choice
The NHS provides information on each of the hospitals or clinics on your list so that you can decide which one you would like to use.
This information includes local transport details and whether or not the hospital provides services such as car parking, disabled access, a visitor canteen and shops.
There are also star ratings or performance standards – these are based on the information collected to show how health services are doing in relation to some of the main targets set by the Government for the NHS as well as other broader measures of performance. They include information from surveys of patients and staff, and other measures useful to patients and carers.
There are a number of ways you can get this information to help you decide which hospital you want to go to:
You will probably want to know more about the specific condition that has caused you to be referred to hospital:
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