Half of Brits have no idea you can choose which hospital you can have an NHS operation in, according to research
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 47 per cent have never heard of ‘patient choice’. They assumed you’re just put on a waiting list and then have no option but to wait however long it takes, when it comes to having an operation.
A quarter (24 per cent) also had no idea they could be seen in a private hospital as an NHS patient – for example, for operations with long waiting lists such as hip and knee replacements. One in five assumed you’d have to pay extra to get such treatment.
Of those who were aware you could choose, say they found out through friends and family and by reading about it in the news rather than from their GP or consultant, the data shows. The research, commissioned by Practice Plus Group hospitals, which provide both NHS and private surgery, follows the publication of the government’s elective care recovery plan.
The plan commits to raising awareness of NHS patient choice and ensuring it is delivered to patients to help reduce waiting lists. This includes updates to its app, making it clearer that independent providers can be used for their treatment.
Jim Easton, CEO from the brand, said: “It’s fantastic news for patients that the government is committed to ensuring more people exercise their right to choose. This research shows there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Up to 69 per cent of those polled agree the government utilising private hospitals as a measure to drive down waiting lists is a good plan. This rises to 79 per cent of people aged 65 and over, who have been particularly affected by long waits for the most common elective operations such as joint replacements, cataract removal and general surgery such as hernias.
When respondents were asked their top considerations when choosing where to have a procedure, nearly half (43 per cent) said the waiting time was the biggest factor.
Convenience was key for many, with four in 10 saying its proximity to home would be crucial, while the hospital or surgeon’s reputation was a big factor for just over a third (39 per cent). Six in 10 believed that choosing where to be treated under the NHS would improve the chances of someone receiving a better quality of care.
According to OnePoll.com data, three-quarters (76 percent) thought it was important to have the opportunity to choose the hospital. At the time of polling, 14 per cent were currently on a waiting list for a procedure, with 21 per cent having been on the waiting list for more than a year.