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<p>The Government’s position is that the National Health Service is now, and always
will be, a public service free at the point of delivery.</p><p>The independent sector
has been providing care for NHS patients under successive Governments. Local clinical
commissioning groups (CCGs), alongside NHS England commissioners, with their clinical
expertise, are responsible for commissioning high quality care for their populations.
We are clear that patients should be able to access the best possible treatments based
on quality of care, and not type of provider.</p><p>Under the NHS Choice Framework,
published by the Department, those choosing where to go for their first appointment
as an outpatient have a legal right to choose any provider which provides clinically
appropriate care for their condition, and has been appointed by the NHS to provide
that service, meaning it has been commissioned by a CCG or NHS England to provide
this NHS service. This may be an NHS provider, a voluntary, charity or social enterprise
organisation, or an independent sector provider.</p>
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