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

• Tees Valley Treatment Centre.