Patients get power to have a say in their NHS treatment

For the first time patients will be able to sign up with any GP practice, regardless of where they live, and be involved in choices over the type of treatment they receive and where they receive it.

The Government White Paper states: "We want the principle of "shared decision-making" to become the norm. In the future, patients and carers will have far more clout and choice in the system, and as a result, the NHS will become more responsive to their needs and wishes. People want choice, and evidence at home and abroad shows that it improves quality."

Patient choice will be extended beyond different hospitals to include different teams of consultants and even maternity services, through the creation of new networks.

The announcement was welcomed by the Royal College of Midwives, whose general secretary, Cathy Warwick, said: "This signals a new era for maternity services in England, if the promise in the document becomes a working reality. The focus on quality and outcomes is significant and should place the mother and baby at the heart of care. The changes in commissioning of services and the creation of maternity networks are very welcome."