Spoilt forchoice?

The new Health Secretary, John Reid, made an important but little reported announcement on 18 July 2003 - that from summer 2004, all patients waiting more than six months for elective surgery will be offered the choice of faster treatment in at least one alternative hospital. More importantly, from December 2005 all patients who require elective surgery will be offered the choice of four or five hospitals at the time their GP refers them for treatment. From 2004, the choice of an alternative hospital will be made from a range of providers including NHS trusts, foundation trusts, diagn...