Kindly sponsored by Bayer Schering Pharma
Date: Monday, 15th September, 18.00 - 19.00
Location: Royal Bath Hotel Mirabelle Room
Speakers: Norman Lamb MP Professor Steve Field, Chairman, Royal College of GPs Don Redding, Picker Institute David Furness SMF
Chair: Sally Gainsbury, HSJ
The government has, in recent years, embarked on a major programme of investment and reform aimed at improving the NHS for patients. Buildings have been enhanced, staff are better paid, clinical standards have been driven up. Central to this programme has been the introduction of choice – making sure that patients are in control of their healthcare.
To develop a patient centred service it is now widely accepted that choice for patients is both intrinsically desirable and a driver of improvement in service standards. Yet, while there have been major successes, such as Choose and Book for operations, weaknesses still remain. Patients may choose their hospital, but not choose their treatment; choose their appointment time, but not their prescription. This fringe meeting will focus on how to make sure patients have real choice in the NHS.
Possible questions in the debate: