Patient Choice
It's Your Choice
If you need specialist hospital treatment and need to be referred by your GP you have the right to choose any NHS hospital in England that provides the appropriate treatment, including many private and independent hospitals who are offering NHS services.
All GPs have access to the Choose and Book electronic referral and booking system in Berkshire West which allows them to search for appropriate hospitals and services to support with the discussions with their patients about the Choice of Hospital. Once patients have confirmed their Choice of Hospital(s) or service(s) GPs can generate the referral through Choose and Book speeding up the process for making a referral to the service and providing patients with the flexibility of having independence in the booking of an appointment to fit around their lifestyle.
You might consider visiting the NHS Choices Website www.nhs.uk which provides comprehensive information about Choice. In addition the website is an excellent resource about Hospitals providing information about their location, infection rates and car parking facilities which may be factors which will help you when making your Choices following discussion with your GP.
Once the Hospital(s) or service(s) have been selected in Choose and Book by your GP you will be able to book your appointment with the information provided to you by your GP. You have the flexibility of booking an appointment through a national telephone appointment line which is open 365 days a year (0345 60 88888) or by visiting the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk and booking on line using the information provided. In either instance you will only be allowed to make bookings to services which have been agreed with your GP. When making your appointment you will need to have your diary with you to consider appointment dates that do not clash with holidays. You have a responsibility to keep your appointment.
You can view frequently asked questions here.
