Patients in control with NHS appointment booking system

Using information given to them by their GP, patients in East Sussex can now book or change their appointment online for most first outpatient hospital or clinic appointments at www.nhs.uk/referrals.

As well as being quick and convenient for patients, it’ll save the GP practice time, cut NHS costs and has been shown to reduce the number of appointments that patients don’t turn up to.

“Recently more and more services have been gradually rolling over to online referral to empower patients to control their own care,” said Dr David Warden, Hastings and Rother CCG Chair. “The Manage Your Referral website lets you book your own appointments on a convenient date and time and, if there is a choice, at your preferred hospital or clinic. It’s easy to do and safe.”

The Manage Your Referral website is easy to use and allows you to book, check, change and cancel appointments online. If you’ve been referred but don’t have your booking reference number or password, you should contact the person or organisation who referred you.

The electronic referrals system helps relieve the burden on GPs by cutting down paperwork and reducing the number of patients who go back to find out what’s happening with their hospital appointment. The system also cuts down on the risk of letters going missing, and doctors will be able to track their patients’ referrals in one place.

For patients who’d rather not do this online, a low cost national helpline is available and staff at GP practices are happy to help patients who need support.

It’s estimated the system could reduce the rate of patients missed appointments by half and save £50 million across the whole NHS.