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Report of the National Patient Choice Survey, England - July 2006

This report gives the results of around 70,000 responses to the second national patient choice survey commissioned to assess the implementation of choice at PCT level. The headline figures were published on 13 November 2006.

The surveys were conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department, as part of a series of surveys planned to monitor patient awareness of choice and recall of having been offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment. They were designed to provide a national overview of choice and summary results at PCT level.

The main findings of the July survey are:

• More patients recalled being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment, 35% compared with 30% in the May/June survey.
• 32% of patients were aware before they visited their GP that they had a choice of hospitals for their first appointment, compared with 29% in the May/June survey.
• 55% of patients who were aware of choice recalled being offered choice, whereas 26% of those not aware of choice recalled being offered it, compared with 51% and 21% respectively in the May/June survey.
• 26% of patients who were offered a choice of hospital were also offered a copy of the 'Choosing your hospital' booklet, compared with 20% in the May/June survey
• 75% of patients who were offered choice were satisfied with the process and 6% were dissatisfied, similar to the May/June survey.
• Location or transport considerations were again given most often, by 68% of patients, as an important factor when choosing a hospital.