Reservation line hits 10k

The Choose And Book system was introduced in Staffordshire just over a year ago and allows patients to choose where they receive treatments as well as the time and date.

The 10,000th patient to book with the trust in this way, Eric Steadman, from Chase Terrace, has been presented with a certificate to celebrate the achievement.

Almost half of new outpatient appointments with consultants at Staffordshire General and Cannock Chase hospitals are now made using the system.

GPs discuss with the patient which hospitals provide the services they need. The date and time of the appointment can then be arranged, either before the patient leaves the GP practice or, if the patient wants more time to think about it, they can call and make the appointment themselves later.

Julie Jones, Choose And Book project support officer for the trust, said: "As GPs and patients get used to the system it is becoming more popular and we're now getting over 1,000 Choose patients a month.

"As well as patients being given a choice, they then ring in to agree the time for their appointment.

"As a result of patients themselves having more choice, there is another spin-off for the hospitals, as people are more likely to turn up."

In January, 4.5 per cent of patients using Choose And Book did not turn up for their appointments, compared to 6.5 per cent of patients who did not attend using the traditional booking system. The trust is now starting to introduce the Direct Booking service, in which patients or GPs will be able to ring a national appointment line – or check on a website – to find out about appointment slots.