Booking your appointment

You can use our services following referral from a general practitioner (GP, or family doctor), dentist, or other primary care clinician.  Traditionally, referrals were made by letter and the hospital then contacted the patient to negotiate an appointment, or issued the patient with an appointment without the patient having any choice in the decision.

Some practices still prefer to send referral letters, but many practices use the more efficient way of booking hospital appointments through Choose and Book.

Your rights to having a choice in booking appointments are protected under the NHS Constitution,  so you can ask that you are involved in choosing an appointment date and time that suits you for most routine first hospital appointments.

What is Choose & Book?
Choose & Book is a national service that combines electronic booking with a choice of place, date and time for first hospital or clinic appointments.  It revolutionises the old paper booking system by allowing patients to choose their initial hospital or clinic appontment and book it on the spot in the GP surgery, or later on the phone or via the internet.  Patients who have been referred through Choose and Book are very positive about the service.

Choose & Book will allow you to book your first hospital appointment immediately and electronically so that you can leave the GP’s surgery with a definite and convenient appointment in your hand. 

You can also book, change or cancel your appointment by going to the Choose and Book website, and using your booking reference number and password. 

The Choose and Book service has already demonstrated many benefits to both patients and the NHS in delivering a more patient-centered service and a better experience for you, the patient.  From Aprill 2011, you can also choose which Consultant led team you would like to see,  after discussion with your GP about the right circumstances in which this service can be used.

How does it work?
If your practice uses Choose and Book, your GP will discuss with you the reasons for your referral and will offer a choice of hospitals that meet your needs.  If it is appropriate,  he/she may also discuss with you which Consultant-led team you would like to see.  Currently, you can only use Choose and Book for the first hospital appaointment of this new referral.  In the future,  you may be able to book other services and appointments this way.

Once you have decided where you want to go, you can then select a date and time (and in some circumstances, Consultant-led team) that suits you.  You can either do this immediately with your GP, or one of the GP practice team before you leave your doctor's surgery.

However, if you are unable to make a decision there and then – for example, if you need to check with your family, friends, or work first - you can book your appointment later over the phone or on the internet using a unique reference number.

Before leaving your practice you will be given an appointment slip to take away with you. This will have your appointment details. It will also give you a reference number for your appointment, the telephone number of the booking service, and the internet address if you wish to book your appointment this way.

Your GP will then send an electronic referral letter to your chosen hospital.  Your referral information will be sent too, but this will be safe and secure and will only be seen by those directly involved in delivering your care.

More information on Choose & Book can be found by looking at the national website: www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk You can also find out more information on your local services by visiting this site: www.nhs.uk