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Right to Choose
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Right to Choose refers means patients in England have a legal right to select where and by whom they receive certain NHS treatments, including mental health services. This leads to patients feeling more in control of their healthcare decisions too, reduced waiting times as choosing alternative providers can speed up access to treatment.
What the Right to Choose Covers
- Hospital or service choice: If the GP refers patients for physical or mental health treatment, they can usually choose the hospital or clinic that they prefer. This includes some private hospitals if they provide NHS services at no extra cost.
- Mental health care: Since 2018, patients can choose their mental healthcare provider for assessments such as ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This helps reduce long waiting times by allowing access to alternative providers. More information about services in Northamptonshire
- Shared care: In some cases, the GP and specialist work together to manage ongoing treatment, giving patients more flexibility and continuity of care.
The Right to Choose (RTC) pathway
If you have requested a referral through the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway we want to make sure you fully understand what this means:
- RTC providers hold an NHS contract with an Integrated Care Board (ICB) somewhere in England, but they do not have a local contract with Northamptonshire ICB.
- Because they hold an NHS contract, you are entitled to be referred to them under the RTC pathway.
However, please note the following important information about prescribing:
- Some medications for certain conditions require a Shared Care Agreement (SCA) between your GP practice and the provider.
- Unfortunately, we are unable to accept Shared Care Agreements with RTC providers. This is based on advice from Northamptonshire ICB and national guidance.
- The ICB has confirmed:
- “We currently only have agreed shared care with NHFT. If patients are seen by private providers, prescribing should remain with that provider. This also applies to patients who see providers via Right to Choose. We do not have any shared care protocols with RTC providers, and they should retain prescribing.”
This means that if your chosen RTC provider recommends medication under a Shared Care Agreement, our practice will not be able to prescribe it. Prescribing will need to remain with the provider.
We are not aware which RTC providers are willing to prescribe directly to patients, so you may wish to check this with them before confirming your referral.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact us.