The figure has dropped slightly after rising consistently from 30 per cent in the first survey in 2006 to 47 per cent in March.
Funding for the Choose and Book directed enhanced service, which paid GPs for using the electronic hospital booking system, stopped in March this year.
Since April 2008, patients referred by their GP for elective care should have been offered the choice of any hospital in England.
tom.ireland@haymarket.com
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Fewer patients recall being offered hospital choice
Figures for referrals in June show 46 per cent of patients recall being offered a choice of hospitals by their GP.
