Since a new texted or phoned reminder service launched in August, there has seen a 35 per cent cut in the number of patients missing outpatient appointments at Great Western Hospital and its community hospitals across Wiltshire.
Following this success the service has (from today, October 9) been extended for physiotherapy outpatients.
Patients receive a text message or automated telephone call around a week before their appointment, reminding them of the location, date and time of their appointment and asking them to confirm, cancel or rearrange.
GWH Trust has sent out 21,596 text messages and made 25,433 automated telephone calls since a pilot was launched in April.
Last year 39,871 patients missed their outpatient appointment, costing the Trust over £4 million.
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