Connecting for Health has announced that
10 million "bookings" have been made through the Choose and Book
system - a central part of the NHS's National Programme for
IT.
This milestone comes 12 months after the programme reached the
five million bookings milestone in August 2007.
The government's original plans were for GPs to be able to book
every hospital appointment electronically by the end of 2005.
This has not proved possible, in part because not all GP systems
can exchange Choose and Book data with hospital systems, and also
because some doctors do not like using the technology which they
regard as slow and cumbersome.
On average around 50 percent of all outpatient referrals to see
a specialist go through Choose and Book.
Connecting for Health said: "As each day passes more and more
patients are benefiting from Choose and Book."
It added: "Patients are now able to book their appointments
electronically at a place, date and time convenient to them
anywhere in the country."
Choose and Book's national medical director Dr Stephen Miller
said: "I am very excited to have reached the 10th million
electronic booking. It is significant because it gives a clear
indication that Choose and Book is making good progress in becoming
the NHS's everyday method of referral. My patients have responded
very positively to Choose and Book and I know their endorsement has
been replicated around the country."
Connecting for Health says that Choose and Book is becoming
"well established, with over 90 percent of GP practices having used
the system over the past six weeks".
It is unclear how many of the 10 million "bookings" are actual
hospital appointments. Sometimes the appointments are cancelled, or
patients do not always confirm by phone appointments for which an
electronic booking number has been issued.
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