Finding the best hospital for your treatment
The NHS Choose and Book service gives you the freedom to choose where to receive your treatment. It can be at any NHS approved hospital – public or private – in England.
Your choice extends to world-famous hospitals such as Guys and St Thomas’, Moorfields and the Royal Marsden. Many private hospitals and independent treatment centres are also now treating NHS patients in your Primary Care Trust (PCT) area.
NHS Choices allows you to directly compare hospitals in several ways before making your choice.
Compare hospitals for treatment
Compare hospitals for specialists
http://ratings2007.healthcarecommission.org.uk – you can use this site to view hospital performance ratings; it also lists independent health care providers.
www.nhs.uk connects you to local NHS services in England; the search engine allows you to access lists of doctors, dentists, opticians, pharmacies and walk-in treatment centres.
Staying local may not always be your best choice.
For example, your family circumstances might make it better to have your operation and recuperation in another part of the country.
Even if your nearest hospital is highly-rated, the medical or surgical group for your speciality might not be the best available locally. It might be better to choose a lower-rated hospital with professional excellence and experience in your condition. Try comparing hospitals. Ask your GP for his opinion.
See the list of all Foundation Trust Hospitals. Learn about the Choose and Book service
How long should you wait for treatment?
From the end of 2008 the maximum wait will be 18 weeks from an initial appointment with your GP to hospital treatment. Many hospitals are already offering radically reduced waiting times.
When looking at hospital waiting times you should particularly focus on how long you will have to wait for first tests and diagnosis – for example, how soon you can get a scan.
Waiting lists can be good for you
You should not necessarily choose the hospital with the shortest waiting times; it can be worth waiting to be seen by the best consultant for your condition. Your GP will give you help and advice.
www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx gives you access to waiting times and compares various hospitals – just follow the links.
Ask your GP about waiting lists, or contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at your Primary Care Trust (PCT) for the latest information.
www.nhs.uk gives you links to every PCT website and these will include PALS contact details.
Not sure which PCT is yours?
Don’t forget, you can choose your hospital and clinic using the NHS Choose and Book service.
