NHS 24 to launch telephone reminder service for hospital appointments

Published on 25/06/2012 12:39

PATIENTS across Scotland will receive telephone calls to remind of upcoming appointments in a bid to cut the number of no shows at hospitals.

• Service is expected to reduce the number of missed appointments from one in four to one is six

• A pilot scheme run in Fife and the Highlands led to a 27 per cent reduction in patient no shows

The service will be run by NHS 24 and will see patients contacted by staff around eight days before they are due at outpatient clinics.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said she hoped the service would be used by health boards across the country.

She said: “It is every patients’ 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.

Staff currently contact patients ahead of their appointments and plans are already underway to get in touch with patients via automated phone messages and SMS texts.