British Medical Association statement on choice in the NHS
One person's choice impacts on another patient's ability to choose and on the various providers of services. Choice implies spare capacity and we are still woefully short of the doctors, nurses and health professionals we need to run a high quality 21st century health service. It is clear we face a fundamental shift in the balance between public and private provision in the health service.
Doctors recognise that patient choice goes hand in hand with informed patient consent. The Association will work with patients to explore the boundaries of choice together.
When increased choice is introduced the government must face the challenge of helping the most vulnerable, the most disadvantaged and the chronically ill to navigate the system and exercise choice.
Everyone is in favour of choice, but it has to be meaningful, well-informed, and available to all our patients. If information - and therefore choice - about healthcare is only available to the middle classes we will disadvantage the patients we most need to empower.
http://www.bma.org.uk
British Medical Association declaraþie privind alegerea în NHS - British Medical Association statement on choice in the NHS - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate