Choose and book
‘Choose and book’ is one of the policies designed to offer patients more choice and is part of the wider NHS ‘choice’ agenda.
With over 13 million Choose and Book referrals to date, the system has become an integral part of the referral process. However, there are mixed views about its effectiveness. Some doctors praise the system for improving the referral process while others find it completely unworkable.
However, the majority of docrors believe that the electronic Choose and Book system has potential over the the paper-based system it has replaced.
Benefits include:
- The ability to provide patients with an appointment on the spot
- Control over their appointment
- Indication of waiting times
- Ability to track referrals on the system
- Confidential exchange of information between clinicians
- The Directory of Services means consultants can define their clinics so GPs can be confident that they are referring to the correct clinic.
Weaknesses include:
- Patients often unable to choose the consultant most appropriate to their clinical need
- Consultants’ and patients’ time is wasted; the ‘right’ patient is not necessarily referred to the ‘right’ consultant.
Other problems include IT support and the implementation of 18 Week and Choice policies.
The BMA has produced a report with recommendations on how the system can be improved. It is also working with the DH and NHS Connecting for Health to ensure the system continues to be fit for purpose for both doctors and patients.
