TITLE

Independent Nurse: Opinion - Do patients really want to have a choice?

AUTHOR(S)

Bower, Emma

PUB. DATE

July 2005

SOURCE

GP: General Practitioner;7/15/2005, p78

SOURCE TYPE

Periodical

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

This article reports that patients were willing to sacrifice faster access to treatment in favor of better hospital care. The report was part of an evaluation of the London Patient Choice Project, one of the first government schemes to offer patients on waiting lists better access to hospital treatment. The researchers say their findings raise questions about the current choice policy, which, so far, has only offered patients a choice of quicker treatment. It could consider investing in raising standards across the whole of the National Health Service (NHS) rather than in a policy that, in all likelihood, will pit hospitals against each another in a battle to win patients.

ACCESSION #

17668505

Tags: HOSPITAL care;  HOSPITALS -- Waiting lists;  MEDICAL care;  GREAT Britain. National Health Service;  MEDICAL appointments & schedules;  PUBLIC health -- Great Britain

 

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