Half of Brits do not know you may select which hospital to have an NHS operation in

A poll, of 2,000 adults, revealed 47% have never heard of ‘patient choice’ and assumed you’re just put on a waiting list and then have no option but to wait however long it takes

Half of Brits have no idea you can choose which hospital you can have an NHS operation in, according to research.

A poll, of 2,000 adults, revealed 47% have never heard of ‘patient choice’ and assumed you’re just put on a waiting list and then have no option but to wait however long it takes, when it comes to going under the knife.

A quarter (24%) also had no idea they could be seen in a private hospital as an NHS patient- for example for operations with long waiting lists such as hip and knee replacements.

One in five assumed to get such treatment, you’d have to pay extra.

Of those that were aware you could choose, more found out through friends and family and by reading about it in the news than from their GP or consultant.

The research, commissioned by Practice Plus Group hospitals, which provide both NHS and private surgery, follows the publication of the government’s elective care recovery plan.

The plan commits to raising awareness of NHS patient choice and ensuring it is delivered for patients to help reduce waiting lists, including updates to its app, making it clearer that independent providers can be used for their treatment.

Jim Easton, CEO from the brand, said: “It’s fantastic news for patients that the government is committed to ensuring more people exercise their right to choose.

“This research shows there’s a lot of work to be done.

“We also need to see more GPs empowering their patients to make choices about their healthcare, and more long term partnerships between the NHS and private hospitals.”

The good news is that 69% of those polled agree the government utilising private hospitals as a measure to drive down waiting lists is a good plan.

This rises to 79% of people aged 65 and over, who have been particularly affected by long waits for the most common elective operations such as joint replacements, cataract removal and general surgery such as hernias.

When respondents were asked their top considerations when choosing where to have a procedure, nearly half (43%) said the waiting time was the biggest factor.

Convenience was key for many with four in 10 saying its proximity to home would be crucial, while the hospital or surgeon’s reputation was a big factor for just over a third (39%).

Six in 10 believed that making a choice where to be treated under the NHS would improve the chances of someone receiving a better quality of care.

While three quarters (76%) thought it was important to have the opportunity to choose the hospital.

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