Letter: Give patients a choice of hospital

Sir: Doctors Mark Monaghan and David Jewitt (letter, 18 February) suggest that patients on waiting lists at one hospital should be referred to another where the waiting list is shorter.

There are many reasons why some hospitals have shorter waiting lists than others, the most common of which is that patients do not want to be treated there. Therefore, the suggestion made cannot be good for patient care as it removes the right of the patient and their GP to choose which hospital to go to for treatment.

Surely it is more logical to provide funds for the patients to be treated at their chosen hospital?

Dr C BUCKNALL

Consultant Cardiologist & Clinical Director

Mr R SMITH

Directorate Manager

Cardio-Thoracic Centre

Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital

London SE1