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NHS first for Bupa Hospital Little Aston10 January 2007NHS patients in Sutton Coldfield are the first in the country to be able to book treatment at an independent sector hospital directly through their GP via the Extended Choice Network. Bupa Hospital Little Aston became the first independent sector hospital to go live on the Extended Choice Network with the NHS directly bookable Choose and Book system last month. The Department of Health appointed Bupa Hospitals Ltd to the NHS Extended Choice Network in August, which means NHS patients will be able to consult a specialist and, if required, will be able to have surgery at one of Bupa’s 24 hospitals in England for a wide range of conditions. Eight other Bupa hospitals in England already have agreements with their local PCTs to treat patients under the Patient Choice initiative, receiving referrals via indirect Choose and Book. Bupa worked closely with Connecting for Health and the Department of Health during 2006 to connect to the NHS network and implement the technology changes involved in upgrading from indirect to direct Choose and Book which allows GPs and patients to view appointment times and book online. Little Aston was the first independent hospital in the country to offer services on Extended Choice Network. The other Bupa hospitals will be gradually added to the network over the next quarter. Most of the referrals will be initially for a first outpatient appointment using the Choose and Book appointment booking system in GP’s surgeries. At first, orthopaedic treatment will be offered at Little Aston, but further treatments including general surgery and gynaecology are expected to be offered during this month. Rob Davenport, of Anchor Meadow Medical Centre, one of the local GP surgeries that will use the system, said: "This will provide better access for more patients in the area, and should contribute to keeping waiting lists down." Clare Hollingsworth, managing director of Bupa Hospitals Ltd, said: "We are delighted to be included in the Extended Choice Network and to be able to offer patients increased choice so they can be treated closer to home or work. This reinforces our commitment to working in partnership with the NHS to deliver quality healthcare to patients. Bupa Hospital Little Aston was one of the top performing hospitals nationwide in the recent Healthcare Commission report into independent sector hospitals." The contract will run until at least March 2008 after which patients will still be able to choose to come to a Bupa hospital under the government’s Free Choice initiative. The Department of Health’s programme is designed to extend choice to patients, increase capacity, keep NHS costs down and provide the transition to Free Choice. Bupa has no shareholders, and all surpluses are re-invested in the healthcare business.
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