The government’s flagship initiative for GPs offering patients a choice of hospital is proving irrelevant in many areas of the country.
An investigation by Pulse magazine reveals that only 6.4% of referrals in the past financial year were for patients travelling from outside hospitals’ normal catchment areas, with the proportion of ‘out-of-area’ patients as low as 3.5% at rural hospitals.
The analysis of data from 84 hospital trusts in England shows the number of patients exercising the right to choose their hospital has more than doubled since 2004/5 – but from a low base.
Read more at Pulse.
Tags: Patient choice
