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Libraries to lend a hand to NHS
Pick your favourite hospital then hope it stays open long enough to visit...

By Dan Ilett

Published: Tuesday 14 November 2006

The government is to pilot a scheme on public library computers to give people more information about which hospitals they choose for healthcare.

Since 1 January this year, NHS patients have had the right to choose from a list of at least four providers when referred for treatment by their GP. In May, that choice was extended nationally.

Information in NHS Choice booklets - which detail what healthcare is available where - will be made available on library systems in a bid to give patients more control over where they receive treatment.

According to the Department of Health (DoH), under the Partnership for Patients project GPs will be able to direct patients to their local library for hospital appointments if they need more time to choose where to go.

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The project will be piloted in 27 libraries in Derbyshire, Gloucestershire and seven London boroughs. There are 3,041 public libraries in England that are visited 274 million times per year, employ 21,690 staff and have a budget of £1.13bn.

At the library, patients will be able to book an appointment through the 'Choose and Book' system over the internet, officials said.

As part of the scheme librarians will be trained to support patients who want to use the service. Plasma screens, banner adverts and poster publicity are also to be used to provide more healthcare information to people.

According to the DoH, a "national menu" of health services will be available to patients. Information would include hospital waiting times, the number of cancelled operations, MRSA rates and patient experience ratings conducted by the healthcare commission.

Lord Warner said giving patients flexibility to choose was essential to create a more responsive NHS.