To ask the Secretary of State for Health what treatments are available to patients in Battersea under Patients Choice at hospitals other than those to which they were originally referred; and if he will make a statement. [101832]

Patients in Battersea are already able to choose an alternative hospital under the London patient choice project for cataract operations and also under the national coronary heart disease scheme for heart operations.From the end of March 2003 these patients will be offering a similar choice in ear, nose and throat, general surgery and orthopaedics. The scheme will roll out to other surgical specialties such as gynaecology, urology and plastic surgery from summer 2003.From summer 2004, all patients who have already waited more than six months for treatment in all specialties will be eligible under patient choice.