Patients to get more choice over services

The initiative is part of the Government’s commitment to allow patients who are referred for a particular service, to be able to choose from a list of qualified providers - that is providers who meet NHS standards for quality and value for money

During September and October patients, patient groups, members of the public and other stakeholders were asked for their views on which services they would like to see more choice of providers in.

Based on the response to the survey the following services will now be opened up to any qualified provider in 2012/13:

Adult hearing services in the community

Diagnostic tests closer to home

Primary care psychological therapies (adults)

Ann Ballarini, Executive Director of Commissioning and Service Development for NHS Calderdale, NHS Kirklees and NHS Wakefield District Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) said:

“The Clinical Commissioning Groups will now press ahead with opening up the services above to any qualified provider.

“This will increase the choice for local patients. We will keep you up to date with developments.

“We would like to thank all the local groups who helped us to publicise and distribute the survey, and to everyone who completed it.”

From April 2013, groups of GPs, known as clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be responsible for the commissioning of all healthcare services. Ms Ballarini added: “They have already started taking over the commissioning of some services, supported by the PCTs in the cluster.”

An implementation plan has been constructed in two phases: the first phase is to deliver the first three qualified provider services listed above, and the second phase will be to deliver the other services identified.