Choosing your hospital
Most patients now have the right to choose which hospital provider they are referred to by their GP. This legal right, which was introduced in April 2009, lets patients choose from any hospital provider in England offering a suitable treatment that meets NHS standards and costs.
Patients can choose which hospital they are seen in according to what matters most to them, whether it's location, waiting times, reputation, clinical performance, visiting policies, parking facilities or other patients' comments.
A choice of hospital is available for most patients and in most circumstances. Exceptions include emergency and urgent services, cancer, maternity and mental health services. If you need to be seen urgently by a specialist (for example, if you have severe chest pain), your GP will send you where you'll be seen most quickly.
Links to more information
- Choosing your hospital FAQs
- More about hospital choice (Opens NHS Choices website)
- Compare hospitals online (Opens NHS Choices website)
- More about patient choice in the NHS (Opens NHS Choices website)
- More about your patient rights (Opens NHS Choices website)
- Find your local Primary Care Trust (Opens NHS Choices website)