Press release: NHS Partners Network welcomes roll out of free choice from 1 April

20 Mar 2008

Commenting on the extension of free choice from 1st April, David Worskett, Director of the NHS Partners Network, said:

"This is excellent news for the NHS as a whole and more importantly it is especially good news for patients. It is now vital that patients are encouraged wherever possible to take advantage of the choice that is available.

"Patients want to make informed decisions about where they go to receive treatment so that they get be reassured they are getting the best care. On this basis, we are clear that, in future, patients will want more choice not less.

"Independent sector providers will of course be monitoring the situation carefully and are confident that where NHSPN members are chosen they will provide excellent care."

Notes for editors

NHS Partners Network is an alliance of independent - both commercial and not-for-profit healthcare providers commissioned by the NHS to provide elective and diagnostic care to NHS patients free at the point of delivery. It was established in 2005 and became part of the NHS Confederation in June 2007.

Members of NHS Partners Network: Alliance Medical, Capio, Circle, Clinicenta, Care UK/Mercury Health, Netcare UK, Nuffield Hospitals, Partnership Health Group, Spire Healthcare and UK Specialist Hospitals.

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

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