Text service reminds
patients of cost of missed appointments
Hospital patients are being told missing a
Hospital appointment costs the NHS ?100 each time in new text reminder service.
Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals have launched the service to help patients get
to their appointments on time.
Text reminders are sent 1 week ahead of an appointment and again 48 hours
before. The text gives the date, time and place of the appointment and a contact
number to call if the patient needs to cancel or rearrange.
Therese Patten, Chief Operating Officer, said:- "Text reminders are a
proven method of reducing the number of missed appointments, especially when
they highlight the cost to the NHS. We know there are many reasons why people
cannot attend appointments. All we ask is that patients let us know if they
unable to attend."
Patients unable to attend an appointment should let the Hospital know as soon as
possible so another patient can be given the slot. Appointments can be
rearranged by calling:- 01695 656680.
Mobile telephone numbers will be used by the Trust only. They will not be passed
to other parties. All personal information will be kept in line with the Data
Protection Act and the Department of Health record retention guidance.
