Most patients are aware that they can choose their GP – or that they have a right to a second opinion. However, did you know that you also have a right to choose where you receive NHS outpatient treatment? That includes choosing the provider, location, and even the specific clinical team in charge of your care.
Your right to choose isn’t an optional extra – it’s a legal right enshrined in the NHS Constitution for England.
Considering that NHS waiting times are at record levels, patient choice allows you to select providers with the shortest waiting times – Medefer empowers patients to find the fastest treatment pathway. You’ll receive treatment faster and get an earlier diagnosis.
In this guide:
- What is the ‘right to choose’?
- NHS and the right to choose
- Comparing NHS and private healthcare choice
- How patient choice works
What is the ‘right to choose’?
We usually associate patient choice with the private sector. However, in the 2000s, the UK government set out key principles to increase competition within the NHS. The NHS Choice Framework and NHS Constitution for England establish that “you have the right to make choices about the services commissioned by NHS bodies and to information to support these choices.”
The ‘right to choose’ means patients can select which hospital or clinic provides their care within the NHS. Patients already have the choice between public and private providers. In the UK, private healthcare works on an insurance basis. Usually, this is reserved for medical conditions that respond quickly to treatment (also known as ‘acute’ conditions), alongside medical tests and elective surgery.
Patient choice expands your options in the public sector. By promoting competition between NHS providers, the policy aims to drive improvements in both the efficiency and standard of care, giving patients a more active role in shaping their treatment pathways.
NHS and the right to choose
Your right to choose takes several different forms – nor is it universal. Your legal rights apply to specific circumstances and take account of the available NHS capacity.
You can:
- Choose which GP practice you register with or which doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional you see at the practice
- Select the provider and clinical team you see when referred by a GP for non-urgent secondary care.
Most patients are familiar with choosing their GP, but far fewer are aware that they can choose their provider and clinical team. In many cases, GPs do not inform patients of this choice when making a referral, leaving them unaware of their rights to select where and by whom they are treated.
In addition to the right to choose, the NHS determines maximum waiting times. You should not wait more than 18 weeks to see a specialist from the time of referral and 2 weeks to see a cancer specialist.
Current waiting lists
Understandably, patients are often sceptical about their right to choose, given current NHS waiting times. As of early 2024, the waiting list was 7.5 million people long. Just getting seen seems to be a privilege, let alone getting seen when and where you want.
However, Medefer believes that patient choice holds the secret to cutting waiting times. NHS capacity isn’t the same all over the nation. Some areas are heavily oversubscribed, while others have underused capacity. Our virtual service connects patients with consultants throughout the UK, averaging 18 hours from GP referral to initial consultant review (as compared to weeks or months via traditional patient pathways).
You won’t speak to a consultant during the review. They’ll perform a thorough evaluation of your case, using their expertise to determine if you require further testing or treatment. If they’re happy there’s nothing to worry about, you’ll get referred back to your GP with a detailed discharge letter. If you require testing or treatment, Medefer will handle every step in your patient journey.
Comparing NHS and private healthcare choice
Whenever the NHS is strained, patients can turn to private healthcare. Demand for private healthcare hit a record high in the UK between 2022-23, according to the Financial Times. Much of the growth was driven by insured patients, indicating that patients are opting out of public healthcare entirely. Private providers guarantee greater choice, faster waiting times, and more personalised care. Or do they?
NHS Right to Choose offers many of the benefits of private healthcare without the cost. Compare your options:
| Aspect | NHS Right to Choose | Private Healthcare Choice |
| Cost | Free for NHS services, including consultations and treatments | Paid by the patient, through private insurance, or by employer |
| Provider Options | Choose from NHS hospitals and clinics, including some specialist centres | Wide range of private hospitals and specialist providers, including exclusive facilities |
| Waiting Times | Option to choose the shortest waiting times in the nation | Typically much shorter, with quicker access to specialists and treatments |
| Consultant Selection | Broad choice; patients can select from available NHS consultants | Greater flexibility to choose a specific consultant or specialist |
| Treatment Scope | Extensive coverage but may exclude certain advanced or experimental treatments | Broader access to newer and advanced treatments not widely available on the NHS |
| Referral Process | Requires a GP referral, but patients may not always be informed of all their choices | Can require GP referral or allow direct access, depending on the insurance provider |
How patient choice works
When your GP refers you for a physical or mental health condition, you have the right to choose your provider. Your GP will refer you using the NHS e-referral service. At this point, you can select your preferred choice. If you’re not sure which provider you want, you can delay your decision. Research your options online, reviewing waiting times, hospital ratings, and specific consultants.
Your GP can also select your preferred consultant. While you may not see this specific specialist, you will see someone in their team. In addition to traditional face-to-face consultations, services like Medefer offer virtual consultations, giving patients faster access to specialists without long waiting times. It’s often the quickest way to exercise your right to choose.
When your GP refers you to a specialist, why wait weeks for an appointment? With Medefer, a consultant will review your case within 48 hours, and we’ll take care of everything—from organising any necessary tests to ensuring prompt follow-up care so you won’t experience unnecessary delays.
For more details, simply email us at patients@medefer.com or call 08000 112 113.
