NHS Patient Choice-lessons for medical tourism

In the United Kingdom, "patient choice" is one of the driving forces in the area of health. Since April 2008, choice of patients was extended in the United Kingdom. Patients can choose which are treated in hospital .... anywhere in the country. Patients can choose the time of his appointment of hospital. In some cases, patients can choose individual consultant who see. The NHS Choices website lists information about all NHS hospitals, such as its MRSA rates, facilities and ratings and feedback by patients means that patients can make an informed choice.

The NHS Choose and Book site allows people to make their choices.
In reality, the initiative of choice for patients was a bit of a disappointment. One problem is that there are actually aware patients that they have a choice. The report of the national patient Choice survey, England-December 2008 examined patient acceptance of choice so far.

The main conclusions:

The percentage of patients, remembering to be offered a choice of hospital for your first outpatient appointment was 46% in December 2008, the same as in September, but above 30% in the first search (May/June 2006) 50% of patients were aware before they visited your GP that they had a choice of hospitals for your first appointment, up 48% in September and 29% in May/June 2006 survey.

The factors influencing the choice

Hospital Cleaning and low infection rates were given in most cases (in 74% of patients) as an important factor in choosing a hospital. The other five are the quality of care (given by 64% of patients), waiting periods (63%), the friendliness of the staff (57%), the reputation of the Hospital (55%) and location or transport considerations (54%).

So what medical tourism companies learn from this?

If UK patients may compare Hospitals NHS MRSA rates, rates of infection post operative and results, because they can't make it to hospitals abroad? Or maybe, because it is difficult if not impossible, to find a hospital medical treatment of tourists who publishs such data or make available for free on your site?

Many people in the United Kingdom are entitled under EU law to travel abroad for treatment. The EU directive establishes a framework around this. but the fundamental right of free movement already exists. So why aren't people taking advantage of this?

They don't know that they are entitled. They do not "rely" hospitals abroad. They would prefer to wait for treatment on the NHS in your local area.

Awareness of the options of treatment abroad can be generated by the providers themselves. One of the best tools to consider is the use of the stories of patients to create local press coverage and thereby raise awareness. See this story on Scottish. Let's see more of them!