From birth budgets for pregnant women to cash for the care of older and disabled people, debates about healthcare continue to encourage greater patient choice in care decisions. And, according to the government’s choice framework (pdf), patients should be able to choose which GP surgery they attend and where to have outpatient appointments, as well as take part in health research – but how does this work in reality?
Evidence shows that less than 40% of patients are offered a choice of hospital by GPs. Patients are often unable to die as they would prefer to, at home, due to a lack of community nursing services. And the recent damning report on mental health care in the NHS revealed that far from being able to choose a range of local options, patients and families have to travel long distances at times of distress.
So how can ambitions for patient choice in how and where they are treated be matched with the day-to-day work of the health service? Join our live discussion on Thursday 25 February 12-2pm to debate the issues this raises with an expert panel. Topics will include:
- How can patients be better informed about the services on offer in their area?
- What are the main barriers to patient choice?
- What examples are there of patients’ opinions being included successfully in care and treatments?
- Do GPs, nurses and commissioning groups have the support and information they need when advocating for patients and their interests?
If you have a question you’d like to ask the panel you can comment below, tweet @Gdnhealthcare or email anna.isaac@theguardian.com.
The panel so far ...
Natalie Koussa, programme lead, National Voices’ Wellbeing Our Way programme, @NatalieKoussa
Jacob Lant, head of policy and partnerships, Healthwatch England, @jacoblant
Keith Holden, head of patient choice, NHS England
Professor Peter Beresford, service user activist and emeritus professor of social policy, Brunel University, @BeresfordPeter
Colin Campbell, director of professional services, Specsavers hearing centres
Sean O’sullivan, head of policy, Royal College of Midwives, @MidwivesRCM
Jonathan Hearsey, extended scope practitioner, Sussex MSK Partnership, @jonathanhearsey
Jacqui Graves, former nurse, head of health and social care, Macmillan Cancer Support, @GravesJacqui
Giuseppe Paparella, policy officer, Picker Institute Europe, @Josephierre
Discussion commissioned and controlled by the Guardian, funded by Specsavers
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