All about: The NHS 'Choose and Book' referral service

How often have you been given a doctor's appointment that has brought you unbelievable annoyance, just because you had to rearrange your week's schedule. This does not mean that the people who gave it to you were trying to annoy you. The new 'Choose and Book' from the NHS changes that.

What is Choose and Book?

Time counts these days and all of us have too little of it. May individuals awaken in the mornings, with a traffic jam, either gathering or acting itself out in their heads. There are too many things to do and not enough time to do them. Now, in the area of healthcare, the NHS has incorporated some changes that will change your way of thinking about booking medical appointments. Especially for those people who have a problem dealing with and keeping up with their paperwork, the NHS Choose and Book system is ideal. Their appointment system is opened seven days a week, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. including bank holidays, so you do not have to be afraid of missing the cut-off time to make an appointment. The NHS Choose and Book system is designed to counter and alleviate the stress that comes with booking an appointment. Choose and Book also reduces waiting times. It gives you more control over your own medical care by allowing you the possibility of checking out which secondary care doctors and facilities may be conducive to your speedy health recovery.

How to use Choose and Book

After conferring with your local GP and after it has been determined that you need secondary medical care, he will print out a list of available hospitals or clinics that are able to treat your problem. As is usual however, many people like to consider and think about their options before they make an appointment. If this is the case, and you want to think about it first, the GP will give you your appointment letter, with the booking Reference Number, the NHS number and the name of the hospitals or clinics that are feasible for you. He will also give you a password, which means you can book your appointment by using NHS online. The NHS website has detailed information concerning the Choose and Book system, and it makes you aware of the NHS choices available to you. You may find it under the following web address:
Chooseandbook.nhs.uk Final word With its extensive online health information program, the NHS online is giving people who are a part of the NHS Healthcare family the best possible service there is to offer.