National Patient Choice Survey - Wave 11
Since the beginning of 2006, patients have been entitled to a choice of four or more hospitals when referred by their GP. The Department of Health commissioned Ipsos to undertake a regular postal survey assessing the implementation of this policy.
The results of the first eleven surveys indicate that most eligible patients are not receiving any choice of hospital provider - although the proportion being offered a choice has improved, from 30% in May/June 2006 to 46% in January 2008.
The results of each wave relate to a two-week referral window:
- Results for the first wave relate to referrals made in May/June 2006 (78,777 responses).
- Results for the second wave relate to referrals made in July 2006 (70,084 responses).
- Results for the third wave relate to referrals made in September 2006 (70,580 responses).
- Results for the fourth wave relate to referrals made in November 2006 (56,928 responses).
- Results for the fifth wave relate to referrals made in January 2007 (73,000 responses).
- Results for the sixth wave relate to referrals made in March 2007 (75,290 responses).
- Results for the seventh wave relate to referrals made in May 2007 (75,191 responses).
- Results for the eighth wave relate to referrals made in July 2007 (62,264 responses).
- Results for the ninth wave relate to referrals made in September 2007 (92,545 responses).
- Results for the tenth wave relate to referrals made in November 2007 (77,804 responses). The November 2007 survey obtained a response rate of 33%.
Results for the eleventh wave relate to referrals made in January 2008 (72,208 responses). The January 2008 survey obtained a response rate of 29%.
The questionnaire was changed for the November National Patient Choice Survey, following a review. While the core questions on awareness of choice and whether patients were offered a choice have been retained, new questions have been added.
The main findings of the January survey are:
- The percentage of patients recalling being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment was 46% in January 2008, compared with 44% in November and 48% in the March 2007 survey.
- 43% of patients were aware before they visited their GP that they had a choice of hospitals for their first appointment, up from 41% in November and 29% in the May/June 2006 survey.
- 63% of patients who were aware of choice recalled being offered choice, whereas 34% of those not aware of choice recalled being offered it, compared with 61% and 32% respectively in the November survey.
- Two-thirds of patients (67%) were able to go to the hospital they wanted, with a further 23% having no preference and 7% unable to go where they wanted, compared with 65%, 25% and 7% respectively in November 2007.
- Around two in five patients (42%) discussed which hospital they might go to with their GP.
- Half the patients who were offered choice (51%) said they used the GP as a source of information to choose their hospital, with one in three (33%) saying they used their own experience or that of friends and family.
- 80% of patients were satisfied with how long they had to wait from the time their GP referred them to when they saw the hospital specialist.
- Hospital cleanliness and low infection rates were selected most often (by 76% of patients) as an important factor when choosing a hospital. In previous surveys, when asked to list three factors unprompted, patients have said location or transport are the most important considerations. When given a list of factors in the revised questionnaire, however, patients cite it as only the sixth most important factor (53%).
