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The government has retained some crucial objectives, notably the pledge to achieve by 2008 a maximum all-in waiting time for elective treatment, from a family doctor's referral to the operating table, of 18 weeks.
ECONOMIST: National Health Service
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In the NHS there have been trials in elective surgery with patients offered a choice of up to four hospitals for treatment, often assisted by a Patient Care Adviser.
BBC: NEWS | UK | Politics | Full text: Blair on public services
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GPs are private contractors, and independently run treatment centres, introduced by Labour, provide around 5% of elective surgery requiring short hospital stays.
ECONOMIST: NHS reform
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But since April, every patient admitted for elective (non-emergency) operations has had a price-tag attached to his treatment, so that hospitals are rewarded according to how busy they are.
ECONOMIST: National Health Service
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Independent treatment centres are expected, for example, to provide 7-8% of publicly financed elective care by 2008.
ECONOMIST: National Health Service
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Patients can rarely find this information before getting elective surgery, or when deciding to commit to a given institution for a long-term course of treatment.
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