Toney Alison reports:   From 1st April 2008 Isle of Wight patients referred for hospital treatment by their GP will be able to go anywhere they choose in England for their treatment.

This free choice initiative is being rolled-out across the country and is an extension of the existing system whereby patients are offered a choice of four or five mainly local healthcare providers when they are referred for secondary care.

Now, patients will be able to choose from any NHS or independent (private) hospital as long as it has a contract to provide NHS services, undertakes the procedure or treatment the patient needs and uses the NHS Choose and Book system. 

This allows patients to book their hospital appointment at a time that suits them at the point their GP refers them for treatment.  Almost all NHS hospitals and many private ones are now using the Choose and Book system.

Helen Shields, Director of Commissioning for the Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust, said: 

“This is good news for local patients who want to have choices over their healthcare just as they do in other aspects of their lives.

“People will, of course, need good information to help them make their choices.  Good quality, NHS accredited information is available from the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk

“Alternatively, once they have been assessed by a GP as needing to see a specialist, they can speak to an advisor by calling free on 08456 088 888.

“The reality for the Island is that, for most people, St Mary’s Hospital will be their provider of choice.  For some time now patients have been able to choose from hospitals in a limited number of fairly local centres, such as Southampton, Portsmouth and Salisbury, and 95% have chosen to stay on the Island.

“This is not surprising as travel to the mainland can be a big deterrent for many and St Mary’s is recognised as a good quality hospital which performs well.”

National research has revealed that patients definitely want the freedom to exercise more choice and the key factors which influence the choices they make are:

*Personal experience of a particular hospital
*Location – whether it is easy to get to or close work, family and/or friends
*The hospital’s reputation 
*Hygiene standards and hospital infection rates
*Waiting times
*Good parking and disabled facilities
*Whether or not the quality of care provided has been rated highly
 
Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust.   Isle of Wight community Information @Island Pulse.