This report from the Department for Health describes progress in implementing patient choice of hospitals. Since January 2006, patients referred by their GP for elective care should have been offered clinically appropriate choices from a list of four or more providers commissioned by their Primary Care Trust.
The findings show a greater awareness by patients before they visited their GP that they had a choice of hospitals for their first appointment. 

People affected by this summer’s extensive floods are being given the chance to contribute to the investigation into what happened. Sir Michael Pitt, the independent chair of the Government’s ‘Lessons Learned Review’ wants them to share their experiences. 

A local government think-tank is urging Gordon Brown to build on the forthcoming report of the Councillors Commission to develop a new generation of local leaders. The call has come from the New Local Government Network, which welcomed the Prime Minister’s comments on his desire to end top-down governance from Whitehall and empower local communities.
The NLGN now wants Mr. Brown to ensure local government leaders play a central role in re-engaging people in local politics.