Thousands of appointments across the NHS are wasted every year, due to patients not attending their appointment. The reasons are varied and often unique, but include:
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not having been informed in time of their appointment
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the patient failing to tell us that they are not able to attend the appointment date offered or
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the patient no longer requires the appointment.
So, as part of East Kent Hospital’s University NHS Foundation Trust’s strategy to reduce the non-attendance rate for appointments, an interactive text/phone/email appointment confirmation system has been introduced. This has enabled us to offer choice to you and gain your agreement (and confirmation) to attend appointments. This has increased utilisation of appointment slots and greatly enhanced yours and other patient’s experience.
Interactive Text and Interactive Voice Messaging system for our Outpatient Clinics, Therapy appointments and Radiology are sent 7 days in advance. Reminders for Endoscopy appointments are sent up to 14 days in advance of your appointment.
The message will ask you to confirm your attendance and will give you a number to call, should you wish to change your appointment or no longer require it.
You should be aware that should you fail to attend an appointment or change or cancel more than once we may not be able to offer you a further appointment.
The system can also be used to contact patients should appointments become available at short notice. You will be advised of when and where the appointments are available and asked to phone in, to take one of the appointments. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Please see our 'Frequently Asked Questions' section for further information.