Government announces plan to give patients a choice of where they get out of hospital care
Under this plan, patients requiring routine treatment outside of hospitals will be able to choose between multiple services across the NHS, charity and independent sector. Services that could be offered under the expansion plan include:
- Hearing aid care
- Dietetics and nutrition
- Heart activity tests
- Podiatry
NHS England shares how it will be working with local integrated care boards (ICBs) on piloting the expansion plan in several areas across the country and where it will also encourage ICBs to consider expanding the range of services already covered by existing choice regulations, such as mental health. Moreover, services offered through the expansion of choice plan will be free at the point of use and will meet NHS costs and standards of care.
From the results of local pilot programmes, the government and NHS intend to expand choice to many more areas across the country and many more services.
The plan arrives when cutting wait-list times across healthcare is crucial for patient access to care and continuity of treatment.
“Expanding choice will not only help get patients the care they need more quickly but is part of our plan to cut waiting lists”
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins adds that it is also a way to empower patients to take control over their health decision-making:
“expanding patient choice will enable people to choose when, where and how they are treated-putting power in the hands of the patients”.
Originally published on: Patients to benefit from largest expansion of choice in a decade - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
