§ Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the patient choice initiative will allow patients to be treated with non-National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraised treatments if it is their choice and their clinicians concur. [183987]
§ Mr. HuttonFrom 2008, for planned hospital care, a patient will be able to choose any health care provider which meets the Government's standards for health care in England. The draft standards were published for consultation in the spring and will be published shortly.
The new standards will require any health care organisations providing national health service treatment to conform to nationally agreed best practice or nationally agreed guidance, including National Institute for Clinical Excellence technology appraisals.