Which?, choice and health
Which? has produced a report about choice and health
exploring the pros and cons of the Government choice agenda
pdf of full report at http://tinyurl.com/bw7fy
The report finds that what people want is good local
healthcare services, flexible to the needs of those using
them, over and above a choice of providers*:
* 85 per cent of people believed that access to a good
GP was more important than the Government giving them more
GPs to choose between
* 89 per cent of respondents agreed that access to a
good local hospital was more important than the Government
giving people more hospitals to choose between
* 74 per cent agreed that patients should be able to
choose an appointment time that is convenient to them.(see note)
The report also highlights that people are unaware of the
choices available, and feel ill-equipped or lack the
confidence to make choices about the clinical side of their
treatment. Good quality information, practical help and
support are vital.
Particular support must be provided so that people with the
poorest health are not disadvantaged by choice.
