Health written question – answered at on 28 March 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons psychiatric patients are excluded from patient choice under the choose and book system.
Mental health services are not currently included in patient choice at referral under the choose and book service. The national choice consultation in autumn 2003 highlighted the choices which mental health service users feel would most enhance their user experience, these focused on choice of treatment rather than choice of service provider. These findings informed the detailed work carried out to formulate the Government's choice at referral policy and led to the decision to exclude mental health services from choice at referral In the light of the national choice consultation's findings, the Department commissioned the choice in mental health programme, which is being run by the National Institute of Mental Health in England. This programme aims to extend the scope, range and equity of treatment choices available across service user pathways.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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