Hospital hails success of new appointment systems

It has also meant more than half of all the hospital’s outpatient appointments are now made using the online choose-and-book system.

More hospital services are now introducing the scheme in an effort to be more flexible over appointments.

A hospital spokesman said: “The introduction of choose-and-book has been complex but is now starting to come into its own, with some added benefits.

“One has been that, on average, the ‘did not attend’ rate for electronic bookings is around three per cent better than traditional bookings.

“Another is the increase in referrals from outside the usual catchment area. Around 21 per cent of the electronic referrals we receive each month now come from outside Rotherham.

“Over recent weeks the Trust has introduced more directly bookable services. Ophthalmology was one of the areas that started taking direct bookings and within the first month around 25 per cent of its bookings were made electronically.

“Also in the past few weeks gastroscopy has become directly bookable. The next few weeks will see oral maxillo facial services and the breast service go live on the choose-and-book system.

“In addition we will have the opportunity to offer electronic slots for some diagnostic services.

“The occasions when slots are not available for patients to choose Rotherham is very few. We currently have the lowest in the area and, when this does occur, it tends to be limited to services where existing capacity is currently under review.”