Choice agenda is ‘failing to deliver’
The government’s policy of extending choice in healthcare is failing to deliver what patients really want, a report from Which? finds today.
A survey by the consumer watchdog suggests people want good, flexible, local healthcare services – something the government has not yet delivered.
Eighty five per cent of respondents said access to a good local GP was more important than having a number of GPs to choose from, while 89 per cent felt the same about a good local hospital.
A further seventy-four per cent agreed patients should be able to choose an appointment time that is convenient to them.
The report warns that choice alone will not lead to better services, suggesting people are unsure of what is available to them, and feel ill-equipped or lack the confidence to make a choice about their treatment.
Which? says the government should listen to what people actually want if it is serious about extending choice in healthcare.
“Increased patient choice is not the answer to all the problems of the NHS. It will not automatically improve standards or ensure that people get the sort of care they need, when they need it,” said Frances Blunden, report author and principal Which? policy adviser.
She said the government was “steaming ahead” with the choice agenda without introducing many of the requirements that ensure consumers understand how it works.
The report calls for better information and support for patients, a review of the regulatory framework for professionals and services, and a more sophisticated approach in funding individual patient choices.
“Without these, choice may pose significant threats to the quality of care patients receive from the NHS, particularly those who are most vulnerable or who have complex health needs,” she added.
