Patients to book own hospital appointments online

The Patient Portal aims to end lengthy waits for people rearranging appointments

A service has been launched to allow people to book and manage their hospital appointments and tests online.

The Patient Portal run by NHS Humber Health Partnership will give patients the power to log in and select appointment dates and times, without needing to wait on the telephone.

A partnership spokesperson said people will still be able to manage their appointments via phone if they prefer.

The service will be piloted in Hull before being expanded into Goole and northern Lincolnshire.

Chief digital officer at the partnership Andy Haywood said it would bring hospital services "in line with what we expect in every other aspect of our daily lives".

"Our new patient-led booking service will transform the way in which our patients interact with their care," he said.

"This new service will see an end to patients receiving a letter with an appointment they can't make and then having to wait long periods on the phone to try and rebook."

The system will also send messages if needed, such as informing patients of a change in location of an appointment, or if an earlier slot becomes available.

It can also check whether a patient is able to attend, allowing appointments to be given to somebody else if not needed.

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