Government announcement on improving choice
DHSC issued an announcement in the name of the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister about making it easier for people to exercise their right to choice.
NHSE will be sending a letter to local areas to ensure that people are offered a choice when it is clinically appropriate. This is intended to increase the number of people who exercise that right – currently about one in ten.
People will be offered five options with information about waiting times, distance and quality of care to allow them to make a choice.
“A new public awareness campaign will also encourage patients to exercise their right to choose and guidance has been provided to GP practices to support them to offer choice, with training available on using IT systems to make referrals.”
The announcement talks about using the NHS App – but that does leave digital inclusion issues to be tackled, which relies on the GP surgery picking up any support needs. The notes include an acknowledgement that transport costs will be an issue for some people and highlights the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. As the scheme refunds what people have paid, transport costs may still prove to be a barrier for people on low incomes.
Although the Government is presenting this as helping cut waiting lists, it’s not entirely clear how it will help. Although it talks of using independent sector capacity, that sector uses a lot of the same staff as the NHS – so this could create extra pressure if staff prioritise work in the independent sector
Some commentators also take the view that choice isn’t that much of an issue for most patients, just so long as they can get treated somewhere convenient and in a reasonable timescale. Choice may bring with it a risk that patients will then want to discuss options with their GP – potentially putting more pressure on GPs.
Regular readers will know what’s coming next: we’ve seen the announcement, but what will be important is how this is implemented. We’ll be really interested to hear what you’re hearing: does this make a difference to people’s experience?
