▁own ▁health ▁and ▁care ▁and ▁make ▁meaning ful ▁choices , ▁particularly ▁for ▁mat ern ity ▁services , ▁people ▁with ▁long ▁term ▁conditions ▁and ▁end - of - life ▁care ”. ▁ ▁History ▁▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁- ▁Pat ient ▁choice ▁pil ots ▁begin . ▁Pat ients ▁with ▁coron ary ▁disease ▁are ▁offered ▁faster ▁care ▁from ▁alternative ▁prov iders ▁▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁- ▁All ▁N HS ▁patients ▁likely ▁to ▁wait ▁more ▁than ▁six ▁months ▁for ▁in pat ient ▁treatment , ▁offered ▁choice ▁of ▁quick er ▁treatment ▁at ▁alternative ▁provider ▁ ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁- ▁patients ▁referred ▁to ▁hospital ▁could ▁choose ▁between ▁at ▁least ▁four ▁hosp it als . ▁ ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁– ▁launch ▁of ▁extended ▁choice ▁– ▁patients ▁have ▁access ▁to ▁a ▁national ▁menu ▁of ▁hosp it als ▁including ▁N HS ▁foundation ▁trust s , ▁independent ▁sector ▁treatment ▁cent res ▁( IST C s ) ▁and ▁independent ▁sector ▁( IS ) ▁prov iders ▁on ▁what ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Ext ended ▁Cho ice ▁Network . ▁ ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁– ▁launch ▁of ▁Free ▁Cho ice ▁at ▁a ▁special ty ▁level ▁– ▁patients ▁have ▁free ▁choice ▁in ▁orth op a ed ics . ▁ ▁December ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁- ▁patients ▁have ▁free ▁choice ▁in ▁general ▁surg ery , ▁g yna ec ology ▁and ▁card i ology . ▁ ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁- ▁Under ▁what ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁Free ▁Cho ice ▁policy , ▁most ▁patients ▁have ▁been ▁able