Free Choice Policy
Since April 2008, 'Free Choice' policy means that patients can choose from any clinically appropriate and accredited provider in England. Since the deployment of Release 4.0 of the application in May 2008, referrers can now select from two menus: "Search Primary Care", which only shows services provided by the PCT or by smaller local providers, or "Search All", which shows services provided by all accredited providers in England.
One criticism of this policy is that patients and their referring clinicians will need more meaningful information to make a genuinely informed choice, some of which is provided by the NHS website "Find and Choose a Hospital" comparison feature.
Read more about this topic: Choose And Book
Famous quotes containing the words free, choice and/or policy:
“In the deserts of the heart
Let the healing fountain start,
In the prison of his days
Teach the free man how to praise.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)
“When there is a choice about it, a great sacrifice is preferable to a small sacrifice, because we compensate ourselves for a great one with self-admiration, which is not possible with a small one.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“’Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”
—George Washington (1732–1799)