Patient Choice in action in Middlesbrough
Patient Choice allows NHS patients to choose where, when and
what time they have their outpatient appointment – and with Free
Choice patients can have their procedure anywhere in England. Tees
Valley Treatment Centre, in Middlesbrough, has shown that Patient
Choice is working well, and that some patients will travel great
distances for their procedure.
In December, Tees’s Valley’s Business Development Manager,
Sandra Moffat, received an email from a GP in London. He had seen a
patient who wanted to come all the way to Tees Valley for a urology
outpatient appointment. Sandra contacted Ramsay’s Choose and Book
Lead, Alan Timbrell, for advice and subsequently emailed a referral
guide to the GP - who confirmed the following day he had
successfully referred the patient.
The referral was received on 28 November, the outpatient
appointment was made for 3 December, and the patient was seen in
theatre on 10 December - demonstrating very short waiting times.
The patient explained that he had chosen Tees Valley because his
sister is a local GP who had recently attended a GP Urology Seminar
at the Centre, and subsequently recommended her brother choose this
service. He was happy to make the 250 mile journey for her
recommendation.
Tees Valley was delighted to receive such a high recommendation,
and continues to offer a range of NHS Patient Choice options.
For more information on Tees Valley call the centre on 01642
737855.
Further information