▁mental ▁health ▁and ▁mat ern ity ▁services ▁were ▁ex cluded ▁from ▁the ▁policy ▁until ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁ ▁Pat ients ▁who ▁are ▁det ained , ▁and ▁serving ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁armed ▁forces ▁are ▁not ▁entitled ▁to ▁exercise ▁choice . ▁ ▁N HS ▁Constitution ▁The ▁N HS ▁Constitution ▁includes ▁a ▁right ▁to ▁choice . ▁It ▁states : ▁You ▁have ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁make ▁choices ▁about ▁your ▁N HS ▁care ▁and ▁to ▁information ▁to ▁support ▁these ▁choices . ▁The ▁options ▁available ▁to ▁you ▁will ▁develop ▁over ▁time ▁and ▁depend ▁on ▁your ▁individual ▁needs . ▁ ▁It ▁also ▁repe ats ▁the ▁requirements ▁specified ▁in ▁the ▁GP ▁contract : ▁ ▁You ▁have ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁choose ▁your ▁GP ▁practice , ▁and ▁to ▁be ▁accepted ▁by ▁that ▁practice ▁unless ▁there ▁are ▁reasonable ▁grounds ▁to ▁refuse , ▁in ▁which ▁case ▁you ▁will ▁be ▁informed ▁of ▁those ▁reasons . ▁You ▁have ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁express ▁a ▁preference ▁for ▁using ▁a ▁particular ▁doctor ▁within ▁your ▁GP ▁practice , ▁and ▁for ▁the ▁practice ▁to ▁try ▁to ▁comp ly . ▁ ▁C CG ▁and ▁N HS ▁England ▁ ▁are ▁required ▁by ▁the ▁reg ulations ▁to ▁“ make ▁arrang ements ” ▁to ▁give ▁effect ▁to ▁the ▁right ▁of ▁patients ▁to ▁exercise ▁their ▁patient ▁choice . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁for ▁the ▁clin ician ▁making ▁the ▁refer ral ▁to ▁decide ▁whether ▁it ▁is ▁clin ically ▁appropriate . ▁ ▁The ▁right ▁to ▁choice ▁only ▁extends ▁to ▁a ▁first ▁appointment . ▁ ▁It ▁does ▁not ▁imply ▁that ▁any ▁chosen ▁treatment ▁must ▁be ▁paid ▁for