25.06.12
Appointment reminder system launched in Scotland
Patients in Scotland are to be contacted ahead of their hospital appointments, in an effort to reduce the number of people who miss their slots.
The service will be run by NHS 24 and patients will be contacted around eight days before their appointment. It is expected to reduce the number of missed appointments from one in four to one in six.
A trial of the scheme in Fife and theHighlandshas led to a 27% reduction in missed appointments.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is every patient’s responsibility to keep their appointments, but we also recognise that the NHS has a role to play in helping to make appointments convenient for patients.
“The reminders have already achieved great results and with more Health Boards set to trial them we can hope to see a better service for patients and a reduction in NHS time wasted.”
In the future the scheme is expected to be expanded to include automated phone messages or reminders via text.
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