More Choice for Patients
Overview
In order to improve services for patients, and giving you more choice, the Department of Health has asked each region to select a list of health services/ treatments that could be provided by more than one organisation from September 2012 onwards.
When organisations have proved that they can offer the service to a high enough NHS quality, this would then enable patients to choose where they receive their treatment/ healthcare.
In Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Bassetlaw we think that local services that could be delivered in this way could include:
· Organisations providing diagnostic tests (such as ultrasound, MRI and CT Scans) closer to home
· Organisations providing support and services to help with the self-management of Long Term Conditions
· Organisations providing community chemotherapy, including home chemotherapy
· Organisations providing physiotherapy* services to treat back and neck pain
· Organisations providing dementia care/ memory services
Why we are consulting
We have chosen these services based on a number of things:
- What people have told us previously in public consultation/ engagement
- What previously undertaken health assessments to identify needs of specific areas or groups have suggested should be priorities
- Where Doctors have told us that it would be beneficial to patients
- Where we believe we could improve patient care and experience
- Where there are enough providers of these services to enable choice for patients
- Where existing contracts allow this to take place
Whilst we have identified these five service areas across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw to be priorities, unfortunately contracts with some current providers of these services mean that it is not possible to allow us to work with providers to extend choice for Physiotherapy* and dementia care/memory services in all PCT areas from 2012. We will therefore be looking to extend choice for these services where we can and monitor effectiveness with a view to the other areas potentially following suit when contracts allow.
What happens next
All the feedback and comments will be collated accross Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Bassetlaw.
This will be discussed at a regional meeting on 17th October, and will be used to inform the commissioning and planning of services.
We will report further on outcomes and actions as available.
