http://www.intouchcounselling.co.uk News for www.intouchcounselling.co.uk en-gb Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:50:18 +0100 Copyright: (C) In Touch Counselling Service 15 6511 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:50:18 +0100 http://www.intouchcounselling.co.uk/news/item.htm?pid=6511 6510 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:44:03 +0100 <p>GPs and doctors are to be given more freedom to recommend counselling from the private sector to their patients.</p> <p>As part of a new Government initiative to increase competition for NHS services, the rules about which community counselling services patients are free to use on the NHS are set to be relaxed.</p> <p>This will give those who are&nbsp; accredited counsellors&nbsp; greater opportunities to gain NHS work.</p> <p>By September 2012, patients can expect to be offered at least two private sector alternatives to NHS counselling when it is recommended by healthcare professionals.</p> <p>BBC News reports that this rule already applies to the full range of hospital operations and will be added to an additional eight NHS services including talking therapies for adults.</p> <p>Health secretary Andrew Lansley claimed that this will allow patients to gain access to these services quicker and encourage NHS staff to improve the quality of their services.</p> <p>Speaking to The Daily Mail, he said: "This is a big day for patients - real choice over how and where they are treated is becoming a reality. It's about real choices for people over their care, leading to better results</p> http://www.intouchcounselling.co.uk/news/item.htm?pid=6510