Survey shows small improvement in patient choice

More patients are remembering being offered choice, according to the latest results of the Department of Health’s National Patient Choice Survey.

Over 75,000 patients, referred to hospital by their GP, responded to the July survey between the 17 and 30 July, with 35% indicating that they were offered a choice of hospitals, up 5% from the first survey in May/June this year.

The main findings of the July survey are:

• More patients recalled being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment, 35% compared with 30% in the May/June survey.

• 32% of patients were aware before they visited their GP that they had a choice of hospitals for their first appointment, compared with 29% in the May/June survey.

• 55% of patients who were aware of choice recalled being offered choice, whereas 26% of those not aware of choice recalled being offered it, compared with 51% and 21% respectively in the May/June survey.

• 26% of patients who were offered a choice of hospital were also offered a copy of the ‘Choosing your hospital’ booklet, compared with 20% in the May/June survey.

• 75% of patients who were offered choice were satisfied with the process and 6% were dissatisfied, similar to the May/June survey.

• Location or transport considerations were again given most often, by 68% of patients, as an important factor when choosing a hospital.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI is the second national patient choice survey commissioned to assess the implementation of choice at PCT level. The surveys are designed to monitor patient awareness of choice and recall of having been offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment and provide a national overview of choice and summary results at PCT level.

Health minister, Lord Warner, said: “This shows that the situation is improving. There is a definite correlation between local awareness and patient recall of choice. We are serious about choice and I expect performance will improve as PCTs act on the results of the survey and learn from those areas where performance is already high.”

Last month, Lord Warner launched a new library pilot project alongside new regional and national versions of the ‘Choosing your hospital’ booklet, in a bid to help make patients remember being offered choice by their GPs.

The DH told E-Health Insider Primary Care that over half (55%) of patients who knew about choice recalled being offered it, whereas only 26% of those not knowing about choice recalled being offered it and they expect to see increases in further surveys.

Questions on choice were dropped from the recently launched Patient Experience Survey, which contributes towards the pay of GPs.

Instead, the DH has proposed introducing an administrative Read code that could be used by GPs when making referrals where choice is appropriate to identify patients that could participate in the survey.

The third National Patient Choice Survey, for referrals in September, has taken place and the publication of results is planned for February 2007.