§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the qualifying criteria for the patient choice scheme are for orthopaedic patients on the Royal London Hospital waiting for hip replacement. [163988]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Royal London Hospital is part of the London patient choice project. This pan-London scheme is at present for London patients who are registered with a London general practitioner.
The London patient choice project offers choice of treatment in an alternative hospital to clinically appropriate patients waiting longer than six months for surgery, including orthopaedic surgery.
189WFrom 1 April 2004 the London patient choice scheme will be open to all clinically appropriate patients, including those resident outside of London, who are on a London Hospital waiting list. However the scheme is not enacted until the patient has been on the waiting list for six months.