Member briefing
The Department of Health published Liberating the NHS: Greater Choice and Control. Government response: Extending patient choice of provider (Any Qualified Provider) and Operational Guidance to the NHS – Extending Patient Choice of Provider on 19 July 2011. They outline the principles of an AQP approach to patient choice.
The Ambulance Service Network (ASN) has produced a briefing for members summarising both publications, outlining the key principles of an AQP approach, the Government's redefinition of AQP folliwing the NHS Future Forum's report and how choice of any qualified provider will be limited to services covered by national or local tariff pricing to ensure competition is based on quality.
There will be a national list of services for which AQP should be provided by autumn following the patient consultation process and the ASN will seek clarity on the meaning of critical care which alongside A&E are services deemed not amenable to AQP.
Download the member briefing.