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PRNewswire-GNN London 31 May

London, 31 May /PRNewswire-GNN/ —

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH News Release (2006/0205) issued by The Government News
Network on 31 May 2006
Health Minister Andy Burnham today welcomed the extension of patient choice
across the NHS.

Mr Burnham was officially launching the extended choice network - a new
extended list of hospitals and clinics that NHS patients can choose from
when referred for treatment by their GP.

Since 1 January this year, NHS patients have had the right to choose from a
list of at least four providers when they need hospital treatment. But now,
that choice has been extended nationally to include NHS Foundation Trusts and,
over the next few months, independent sector treatment centres.

With dozens more hospitals and clinics to choose from, patients will have
even more control over when and where they can get their treatment.

Andy Burnham said:

“Since the beginning of the year NHS patients have been given the kind of
choices only previously available to those who could afford it. We are at
last putting patients in control and creating a health service where care
is provided to their convenience and not the health provider.

“Society is changing, and so are people’s lifestyles. We commute more,
live further from our families and work different hours. We want and expect
convenient services that are tailored to the lives we live. We know that
NHS staff want to provide services that meet people’s needs too, but until
now have been hampered by a centrally run health system that hasn’t always
let them put their patient’s first.

“We want to see patients increasingly having the right to choose where to
go if they need treatment or care - nobody should have to accept a ‘get what
you’re given’ culture.”

The Department of Health also today published an update report on patient
choice, highlighting patient and clinician experience since the introduction
of choice at referral on 1st January.

Mr Burnham said:

“This report shows that patients value being able to choose where to go
for their treatment, and the convenience of choosing the time and date of
their appointment.

“The report also presents feedback from GPs who have told us that choice has
helped deliver improved dialogue with patients. It also clearly indicates
the positive impact that the Choose and Book service is having on patients,
doctors and the NHS as a whole. GPs have even helped us develop an updated
version of Choose and Book. ”

To assist the Department of Health with the future development of choice
policy, Mr Burnham also today announced that Dr. Mayur Lakhani, Chairman of
Council, Royal College of GPs, along with David Pink, Chief Executive of the
Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance, will co-chair independent reference
group for patient choice drawn from a variety of stakeholder organisations.
Its role will be to bring a wider perspective to policy development.

Notes to editors:
1. A new version of Choose and Book was made available at the end of April
to support the extended choice network. Choose and Book Release 3.0 supports
doctors and professionals that make referrals to specialist services, in
offering patients more choice. It gives them instant access to the services
available from Foundation Trusts and approved Independent Sector Treatment
Centres.

2. A copy of the new choice report is available on line at www.dh.gov.uk

3. For media enquiries please contact 020 7210 5301/5435. For all other
enquiries please contact 020 7210 4850.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Source: NetPR