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NHS Booking system

(4 Posts)
Nonnie Fri 26-Sept-14 09:56:27

Yesterday I received an appointment to see a consultant but not until after my holiday (I'd given GP the dates) and as DH had been called to ask if he could take up a cancellation recently it seemed like a good idea to see if I could get one before we go away.

I have just listened to a very helpful message before being put through to a very helpful person who told me I can do onto:

www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk

to see any cancellations or available appointments and do it as often as I like. She assured me that all cancellations go on there straight away. It is excellent and a great improvement on anything I have come across in the nhs before.

pompa Fri 26-Sept-14 10:31:30

I have used the NHS Choose & Book system a few times, excellent, easy to use and you can choose the hospital/consultant/appointment that suits you best.

POGS Fri 26-Sept-14 11:07:34

Yes we have used it and it was very successful.

We have an excellent GP service and we book our appointments online and it is brilliant. We have noted that not many people know about the service and I don't know if all GP surgeries have made this system available.

It doesn't replace the receptionists, they find it useful too. I would not at anytime expect it to be the sole contact for making appointments as there are so many who are either challenged by using a computer, or do not even own one, so it should be encouraged but not replace the human contact with a receptionist.

Nonnie Fri 26-Sept-14 11:16:14

No POGS we don't all have it. We used to be able to check in on a screen when we arrived but over a year ago they 'upgraded' to the NHS system and it hasn't worked since. The Receptionists find the new IT system slow as well. Fortunately for the patients they are a great, friendly bunch and I can have a laugh with them, most recently when I filled in the holiday form to see if I needed any booster injections and when they saw where we were going they offered to carry my bags. smile