Kindly sponsored by Bayer Schering Pharma
Date: Tuesday 30th September, 13.00 - 14.00
Location: Room 110, First Floor, Jury's Inn
Speakers: Earl Howe Professor Nick Bosanquet, Imperial College London David Pink, Chief Executive, Long-term Conditions Alliance David Furness SMF
Chair: Richard Vize, Editor, 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: