OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS RECEPTION - TEL 01624 650103
The Department of Health is always working to reduce the number of missed hospital appointments. We are not only concerned by the financial impact when patients miss appointments, but also the impact that missed appointments are having on Noble's Hospital’s ability to treat patients, use hospital staff time effectively and keep waiting lists to a minimum.
Missed appointments are often called ‘did not attends’ (DNAs) and in 2010/2011, the number of patients who ‘did not attend’ (DNA) Noble's Hospital outpatients department for their appointment was 8,420; of these 2,200 were for new patients. Each missed appointment cost Noble's Hospital approximately £150 and so last year, the total cost was over £1,263,000. More importantly, these DNAs prevented others from their first opportunity to see a specialist therefore increasing the existing waiting lists.
If you don’t turn up for your appointment or cancel in good time, we have to reschedule the appointment, which results in you and other patients on the waiting list, waiting longer to be seen. We know that sometimes there are good reasons why you are not able to make your appointment, but it’s important that you let us know if you are not able to attend, or no longer want your appointment as soon as possible.
Outpatient Appointments Reception – ‘one stop shop’ commenced on Monday, 14th January 2013
As part of an ongoing programme to improve services for patients across the Department of Health, Noble’s Hospital introduced a centralised Outpatient Appointments Reception on Monday, 14 January 2013. The Outpatient Appointments Reception acts as a one stop shop for making, rescheduling and cancelling appointments, as well as providing a check-in service for those arriving at Noble’s Hospital for clinics. By centralising appointment services, which currently operate separately for each clinic, it’s hoped greater efficiency and consistency can be delivered, freeing up resources and providing a better service to those visiting Noble’s Hospital and those contacting the hospital in connection with appointments.
Member for Health, Dudley Butt MLC, said:
“When the Department gave the public an update on waiting times in November last year, we made it clear that whilst progress was being made, there remained much work to do. The new Appointments Reception is part of this work. By centralising processes and staff that are responsible for appointments into one core team, we believe we can deliver a much more efficient service. We also believe we can create additional capacity within existing resources by ensuring that only this core team of staff deal with appointments, no matter which Noble’s Hospital outpatient clinic is being visited. The new system will help to ensure available clinic appointments are not wasted and are allocated to other patients when someone cancels their appointment as well as releasing staff time to improve support for front-line services.
Patients coming to the main Noble’s Hospital building outpatient clinics (i.e. not those taking place in the Day Assessment and Treatment Unit or the Diabetes Centre) will need to:
- Check-in for their appointment at the new Outpatient Appointments Reception desk in the Main Foyer of the Hospital (Welcomers will be available at the old clinic reception desks to welcome and advise patients)
- Return to the Outpatient Appointments Reception desk after their appointment to either be discharged or arrange a follow-up appointment
Telephone the new Outpatient Appointments Reception on 650103 for all enquiries about appointments, including cancellations and re-booking, from 08:30 - 17:00 Monday - Thursday and 08:00 - 16:30 on Fridays. Providing Noble's Hospital staff with your contact details will also help us contact you more quickly and efficiently.
If you are no longer able to attend your outpatient appointment at Noble's Hospital please give us as much notice as possible.
Useful links on New Outpatient Appointments Reception
- Click here to read the news release on “New Outpatient Appointments Reception to further improve services for patients at Noble’s Hospital”.
- New appointments facility to reduce waiting lists - Energy FM
When you arrive at your next Noble's Hospital outpatient appointment, please check with staff that we hold an up to date record of your home address and telephone and if you have one, your mobile phone contact details.
Useful links on Waiting Lists
Manx Radio Purge on hospital waiting lists has been effective - but challenges remain
Isleofman.comPurge on hospital waiting lists has been effective - but challenges remain
Manx.net TVNHS Waiting Lists - video 1NHS Waiting Lists - video 2
