When you use the NHS, you have certain rights that help you make informed choices about your care. This includes choosing your GP practice, choosing which hospital or service you go to, and understanding what to do if you are waiting longer than expected.
We want to make these rights clear and easy to understand so you can feel confident making decisions about your health.
Choosing a GP practice
You have the right to choose the GP practice you register with, as long as you live within the practice area and the practice has availability.
If you want to look at practices near you, you can search your postcode on the NHS website. Practices may also give information about the services they offer, how to register, and online access options.
Choosing your hospital or service
If your GP or another healthcare professional thinks you need specialist care, you have the right to choose:
- The hospital or provider you go to
- The consultant-led team you prefer (if more than one is available)
This right applies to both physical and mental health services.
You can choose any provider that has a contract with the NHS and offers the service you need. This may include:
- NHS hospitals
- Specialist NHS services
- Independent hospitals that provide care for NHS patients
The NHS Choice Framework sets out all of your legal rights around choice, including when you can choose and when you cannot.
What choices are available?
The NHS Choice Framework provides guidance on choosing:
- your GP
- hospital or consultant
- mental health services
- maternity services
- end-of-life care
It also explains each area in more detail and helps you understand what applies to you.
If you are waiting longer than expected
You may be able to move to a different hospital if you are waiting too long for planned care.
You can request to move if:
- You have waited more than 18 weeks from referral to treatment for non‑urgent care
- You have waited more than 2 weeks for your first specialist appointment after a suspected cancer referral
You can discuss this with the hospital providing your care. They will look at whether another provider can offer a shorter wait. Not all patients will be eligible — for example, those needing very specialist treatment or who have complex medical needs.
If you have been waiting over 40 weeks
As part of the drive to reduce elective waiting lists, hospitals may contact patients who have been waiting a long time (over 40 weeks) and do not have an appointment date in the next eight weeks.
If you are eligible:
- You will be contacted directly by the hospital or independent provider currently treating you
- You will be given information about whether you can move to another hospital
If a suitable alternative provider is found, all areasof your care pathway may be transferred, including appointments, assessments, your operation or treatment, and follow‑up care.
Some patients cannot be transferred, for example those needing highly specialised care that is only available in certain hospitals.
Thinking about what matters to you
When making your choice, you may want to think about:
- How close the hospital or service is to your home
- Travel time and parking
- Waiting times
- Quality of care
- Patient reviews and feedback
- Whether the service is right for your condition
Your GP or healthcare professional will explain your options, answer questions, and help you make a choice that works best for you.
Online tools such as My Planned Care and the NHS services directory can also help you compare waiting times, locations and care quality.
When you cannot choose
There are times when you won’t be given a choice. This includes:
- If you are using or need the help of urgent, emergency or crisis services or need urgent treatment such as cancer services and need to be seen very quickly.
- If the local NHS has commissioned a specialist community health service to support patients with a specific condition (such as a community musculoskeletal service), your GP will refer you to that service and will not generally offer you a choice to go to another provider.
- If you are a prisoner, or other detainee, or if you are held in hospital under the Mental Health Act, or if you are a serving member of the armed forces.
The NHS Choice Framework explains these situations in detail.
If you feel you were not offered a choice
If you think you were not given a choice when you should have been:
- Speak to your GP or consultant
- Contact the Central East ICB patient experience team if you are not satisfied