Appointment reminder service

On 1 August 2011 East Cheshire NHS Trust re-launched its FREE appointment reminder service. This now incorporates a convenient text messaging service delivering a discreet reminder direct to your mobile telephone.

Why we have launched this service?

It is important for all patients that they receive their clinic appointment in the shortest possible time. At East Cheshire NHS Trust we continually work to ensure our appointment capacity is managed to a maximum to accommodate as many patients as we can. However national statistics show that during 2009/10 over six million patients failed to attend their NHS appointments, wasting 8% of the services entire capacity.
 
During the last year at East Cheshire NHS Trust over 11,000 patients did not attend their appointments, both due to unintentionally forgetting the date or by failing to let us know that they no longer require to be seen. In line with the trusts access policy patients who do not attend their appointments will be automatically discharged back to their GP and will have to seek re-referral back to the trust in order for their treatment to continue. By providing a FREE reminder we aim to remind patients of their appointment and also give them the opportunity to cancel or request a rearranged appointment if required. This will help us to see more patients, more quickly.  

How it will work

If we hold a mobile telephone number for you in our records we will send you a free text message approximately one week before your appointment is due. The text will also offer the option for you, if necessary, to request a cancellation or rearrangement of the appointment.

When will the service start?

We are planning on a phased introduction of the new reminder service which started on1 August 2011 and aim to have this roll out complete during September 2011. Before that time we will notify as many patients as possible about the service via an introductory text message. This message will include details of how to opt out of the service.

How to register for the service

If you would like to be included in this FREE reminder service please submit your up-to-date contact details via our registration page.

Opting out of the reminder service

If you do not wish to receive a text message reminder it is possible for you to opt of the service. You can do this by letting a clinic receptionist know next time you visit clinic, by calling 01625 663333 and advising our appointment booking clerks or by emailing ecn-tr.OutpatientAppointments@nhs.net advising us of your name and date of birth and we will ensure you are removed from the system. You can opt back in at any time by contacting us by the same methods
 
If you have previously opted out of receiving an appointment reminder voice message direct to your landline, you do not need to opt out of the service again. However if we hold your mobile telephone number you will still receive a discreet text message reminder unless you advise us you also wish to be excluded form this service 
 

How will we use your information?

East Cheshire NHS Trust Fair Processing Notice
 
Your contact details are important to us; ensuring that we can contact you in regard to appointment bookings, appointment cancellations and as means of reminding you of your forthcoming appointments. 
 
The contact information we store will only be used by us in relation to hospital business and we will not pass on your information to any other party other than the third party company used to deliver our free of charge appointment reminder service, who are also obliged to keep your information secure and used only for that purpose. All personal information will be kept in line with Department of Health retention period policy.

Further information on the service

If you require further information about this service please contact Anita Thorpe, Outpatient Services Administration Manager on 01625 661352 or Debbie Whitmore, Outpatient Booking and Capacity Supervisor on 01625 663724