With the government’s target for 90% of GP patient referrals to be done using the electronic Choose and Book system falling at the end of March word has reached E-Health Insider of fresh efforts by local NHS bodies to promote the message of patient choice.
NHS authorities in parts of the North West have started running bus adverts to promote the concept of choice in a bid to drive home the message patients have the right to choose which hospital or clinic they are treated in.
Currently only about a third of GP initial GP referrals of patients to hospital are so far occurring using C+B nationally, with the programme running severely late.
According to the Runcorn Daily News buses depicting the slogan ‘It’s your Choice – You Decide!’ are currently travelling throughout Runcorn, Widnes and St Helens.
Russ Neale, Choose and Book project manager at Halton and St Helens PCT said: "Through our bus campaign we are trying to raise the public’s awareness of Choose and Book.
"Your nearest hospital is no longer your only option for treatment. You can now choose from a list of local hospitals."
Choose and Book is a cornerstone of the NHS IT programme, providing patients with the ability to choose their initial hospital appointment and book it on the spot.