Choosing which hospital to have my treatment

[innocent girl]

You know a while back it was in the news that you could choose which hospital you wanted to have your treatment in. Well how do you go about it? I have been told I have to go to a hospital quite far from me and its very inconvenient for me to go there rather than the one in my hometown where they do the same treatments. At least £50 in a Taxi. Not to mention arranging childcare. Cant I choose?

[dmg24]

It depends on the treatment that you are having, though most are now available under the 'Patient Choice' scheme (the notable exception is mental health treatment).

If you speak to your GP, they will advise you of your options. It may be that there is a much longer waiting list at the closer hospital, and so you need to weigh up the pros and cons of waiting.

[innocent girl]

Well I was refferred by my dentist as I need an oral cyst removed. I dont mind the waiting list I just cant afford to go so far away. I'm seeing my dentist this week so I shall speak to her.

[eamon]

I think your primary care trust (PCT) is obliged to give you the choice if you are referred to a consultant/specialist for treatment. I'm currently being monitored for cataracts and I was given the choice of 3 different hospitals. Probably like most people I chose the one that I had best access to i.e. short/easy bus journey, private hire taxi / or if nice weather its walkable (though I should mention that last time I choose to walk home the weather turned and I was like a drowned rat as I had neglected to carry any emergency money on me).

Eamon

[Crabman]

Hi innocent girl, I'll move this to the 'Health & Beauty MoneySaving' Board :)

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1009335#post1009335)) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com (abuse@moneysavingexpert.com).

[Wolfsbayne]

It all depends on the facilities offered at different hospitals. I work in operating theatres and we do have people coming from miles away because we specialise in hand and obesity surgery at my hospital. We dont offer cardiac or neuro surgery though, so someone from my area would have to go to a different hospital to have the treatment.

I assume you've been referred to a maxillofacial clinic which is quite specialised and possibly not something every hospital would have therefore you probably wouldnt get a choice.