The NHS Choice Framework exists so that you, as a patient in England, can have more say and control over your health care. It explains what decisions you may be able to make, when those decisions are a legal right, and when they depend on what is available locally.

What choices you might have

Choosing your GP or GP practice

• You can choose which GP practice you register with, and within that practice, ask to be seen by a particular doctor or nurse.

Choosing where you go for your first specialist appointment

• If your GP refers you for consultant-led treatment, you usually have the right to pick which provider you go to, including providers outside your local area.

Asking to switch provider if waiting times are long

• If you are waiting for non-urgent treatment and the wait is longer than the maximum standard (usually 18 weeks), you can ask to be referred to a different provider.

Maternity services

• You can often choose where to receive maternity care, whether a midwife-led service, a hospital obstetric unit, or a home birth.

Personal health budgets

• If eligible, you might be offered a personal health budget giving flexibility over how your care is arranged.

Find out more from gov.uk: NHS Choice Framework