Choose and Book’s new champion
A system that has managed to book 4.4m hospital appointments for patients in England must be doing something right. So argues the newly-appointed medical director of Choose and Book, Dr Stephen Miller. Fiona Barr reports.
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Over 90 percent of patients recall choice discussions
More than 90% of patients who were referred to hospital in the first three months of this year discussed choice of hospital with their GP, according to the results of a Department of Health survey of almost 270,000 patients. The results of the National GP Patient Surveys on Access and Choice for 2006/7, published today […]
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EMIS goes national with digital TV appointment booking
Primary care IT supplier EMIS has extended its online appointment booking service so that patients can now book GP surgery appointments via digital television or by using their mobile phone. EMIS has announced that it is extending the digital television service to cover all practices across the country using its EMIS Access module after successful […]
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Slow progress on Choose and Book
Uptake of Choose and Book has made slow progress since the beginning of this year, according to latest figures from Connecting for Health. Statistics for the week ending 16 July show that England’s electronic referral and booking system is being used for almost 40% of NHS referrals for first consultant outpatient appointments, two percentage points higher […]
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Training Day DNAs
While the NHS strives hard to cut its DNA – ‘did not attend’ – rates for patients attending hospital and GP appointments, a hidden DNA rate remains worryingly high among the staff themselves, Niall Shanahan explains.
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Decision support could improve bowel cancer diagnosis
Computerised decision support systems could help to improve the process of identifying patients at risk of bowel cancer, researchers argue. They say the traditional system is producing consistently poor results. GPs currently have to weigh up the significance of symptoms such as rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and changes in bowel habit which may be due […]
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Oxfordshire council uses web-based bed booking
Oxfordshire County Council have started using a new online care bed vacancy database and booking system, using technology from OLM group, an independent supplier of information solutions for children’s and adult services. The new care home bed vacancy database will be accessible by all the council’s care homes, and staff will be able to update […]
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BMA conference says C+B limits patient choice
The British Medical Association’s annual conference has condemned Choose and Book as currently unfit for purpose and claimed the scheme actually limits patient choice, echoing criticism from GP representatives earlier this month. Doctors at this week’s BMA’s annual representative meeting (ARM) passed a motion which branded Choose and Book as unfit for purpose and claimed […]
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GPs say Choose and Book currently ‘unfit for purpose’
GP representatives have rejected calls for Choose and Book to be suspended but have branded the scheme as currently unfit for purpose. Last week’s National Local Medical Committees’ (LMCs) Conference described the e-booking system as a politically-driven initiative that was being manipulated by some hospital trusts and primary care organisations to limit choice for patients […]
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Choose and Book, 152 PCT stories
In the latest article from the clinicians leading Connecting for Health, Dr Mark Davies the clinical director for Choose and Book, sets out the progress.
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