Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with integrated care boards and NHS England on ensuring that contracting decisions uphold the principles of patient choice.

The Government is committed to giving patients greater control and choice over their care. Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient.

Patients’ right to choose is set out in legislation. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population and to meet their statutory obligations to promote choice and enable patients' legal rights.

There is guidance for the use and implementation of the contractual levers available to ICBs, detailed in the NHS Standard Contract Technical Guidance. Use of these must not restrict patients' choice for provider.