Thousands of patients in Britain will be able to book general practitioner (GP) appointments via their television, after the national rollout of a pilot scheme.
Trials of the service in South Yorkshire showed that it reduced the number of missed appointments. Over 1,100 surgeries could now offer the service, which allows patients to make, amend and cancel appointments through digital TV and mobile phones, BBC reported on July 23.
In future, patients will also be able to order repeat prescriptions. The service is accessed through pressing the interactive button on the digital TV remote.
It is essential that they offer patients a range of choices to allow them to book an appointment with their GP in a way that is cost convenient for them.
The appointments system that the patient can see is the same that the doctor's receptionist uses when someone phones up or asks for an appointment in person. The service can be accessed through the local portal on the interactive menus on Sky, cable and free-view boxes with a modem or broadband connection.
The pilot scheme showed that fewer people failed to turn up for their appointments saving GP time. "As a practising GP, I know from personal experience that the option of booking appointments online has proved very popular and I would expect that this project will have a similarly positive impact," a doctor said.
Digital TV, the Internet and mobile phones are all part of modern society and it is essential that they offer patients a range of choices to allow them to book an appointment with their GP in a way that is most convenient for them.