▁to ▁choose ▁services ▁from ▁any ▁hospital ▁provider ▁that ▁is ▁clin ically ▁appropriate ▁and ▁meets ▁N HS ▁standards ▁and ▁costs , ▁including ▁N HS ▁foundation ▁trust s , ▁ac ute ▁trust s ▁and ▁many ▁independent ▁sector ▁prov iders ▁and ▁their ▁hosp it als . ▁ ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁ ▁National ▁Health ▁Service ▁Commission ing ▁Board ▁and ▁C lin ical ▁Commission ing ▁Gr oups ▁( Res p ons ib ilities ▁and ▁Stand ing ▁R ules ) ▁Reg ulations ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁ ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁policy ▁extended ▁to ▁mental ▁health . ▁ ▁Gu id ance ▁says ▁" This ▁means ▁having ▁a ▁right ▁to ▁choose ▁which ▁team , ▁led ▁by ▁a ▁named ▁health care ▁professional , ▁del ivers ▁their ▁care ▁and ▁treatment . ▁ ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁the ▁Five ▁Year ▁For ward ▁View ▁as ser ts ▁" We ▁will ▁make ▁good ▁on ▁the ▁N HS ’ ▁long standing ▁promise ▁to ▁give ▁patients ▁choice ▁over ▁where ▁and ▁how ▁they ▁receive ▁care ”. ▁ ▁Exception s ▁to ▁policy ▁Ar ound ▁ 8 0 % ▁patients ▁referred ▁by ▁their ▁GP ▁to ▁a ▁first ▁out pat ient ▁hospital ▁appointment ▁were ▁el ig ible ▁to ▁choose ▁the ▁hospital . ▁There ▁are ▁however ▁some ▁exceptions ▁to ▁hospital ▁choice ▁policy . ▁These ▁exceptions ▁include ▁those ▁where ▁speed ▁of ▁access ▁is ▁important ▁such ▁as ▁sus pected ▁cancer ▁ 2 ▁week ▁wait ▁refer r als ▁and ▁ur gent ▁refer r als ▁such ▁as ▁sus pected ▁stroke ▁and ▁heart ▁attack . ▁Refer r als ▁to