Empowering patients to book their outpatient appointment

You may already be aware that the Outpatients Service at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has been trialling new ways of delivering services via non-face-to-face and digital systems during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic to keep patients and staff safe. 

One of the transformations being driven forward by the outpatients team is the electronic booking (eBooking) service which gives people who have a smartphone more control over selecting the date and time of their outpatient appointment. 

An eBooking poster has been developed by the outpatients team to raise awareness of the service. We would encourage all of our Partners to share the poster and help spread the messages far and wide. We would also encourage patients reading this article to share their most up-to-date contact details at the UHMBT website here. 

So how does eBooking work?

Patients who have a smartphone number registered with the hospital can book their appointment online. For most services, patients will be sent a text message to their smartphone with a link that lets them quickly and securely book a date and time that suits them. They will receive immediate confirmation of their booking.

If patients choose not to, or are unable to book in this way the Outpatients Service will make the appointment for them and send a postal letter if the link is not accessed within 48 hours.

How can I find out more?

If you have any queries about the project please contact Julian Grieves, Operational Lead for Outpatients, at julian.grieves@mbht.nhs.uk 

You can download a PDF version of the eBooking poster here.