Introduce safeguards against blanket minimum waits for NHS Right to Choose — 7 signatures. Status: rejected.
Introduce national safeguards to protect meaningful patient choice and timely access to NHS-funded Right to Choose autism and ADHD assessments, preventing Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) from imposing blanket minimum waiting periods where an eligible provider has assessment capacity.
Patients in England have a legal right to choose a healthcare provider, yet some ICBs enforce minimum waits even when providers have capacity, e.g., two years in West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire ICB's Quality Impact Assessment acknowledges risks to mental health and more reliance on GPs and social care. Those unable to pay privately lose out most. We ask the government to protect patient choice by establishing national safeguards. ICBs must publish evidence and support patients while waiting.
View this petition on the official UK Parliament website