Your rights to choice

Everyone who is cared for by the NHS in England has formal rights to make choices about the service they receive. These include the right to choose a GP surgery, to state which GP you’d like to see, to choose which hospital you’re treated at, and to receive information to support your choices.

These rights form part of the NHS Constitution.

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has published a guide to help patients make choices about their NHS care.

This follows a survey earlier in the year which showed that nine out of 10 local people would like to be able to choose their GP practice.

A similar number would like to choose the hospital they are referred to, as well as the time and date of any appointments, according to the poll of 1,004 people living in Fylde and Wyre.

The online guide includes patients’ rights to making choices about their GP practice, hospital and which healthcare professionals they see. It also includes choice with regard to maternity and community services, as well as end-of-life care.

Visit Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB for more information