Isle of Wight NHS Trust is validating its waiting lists to reduce hospital procedure and appointment wait times at St Mary’s Hospital and seeks your help.
As waiting lists for appointments and procedures across the NHS continue to grow, the Trust is taking action to help reduce waiting times at St Mary’s Hospital by enabling a process that allows patients to confirm whether they still require their appointment.
Text message questionnaire
From Monday 23rd October to Wednesday 8th November 2023, St Mary’s Hospital will contact patients through text message, using a brief questionnaire to confirm their need for a scheduled procedure or appointment.
Patients on specific waiting lists for over 12 weeks will receive a text message from NHS IOW, which will contain a unique 4-digit PIN.
The PIN, along with their date of birth, will enable a brief questionnaire about their upcoming appointment. Those on multiple waiting lists, will receive a notification for each one.
By post
If there is no mobile telephone number on record for the patient in the hospital system, they will receive a letter by post instead.
If you are on a waiting list and do not receive contact from the hospital during this time, no action is necessary.
Why to take part
Completing the questionnaire will help reduce waiting lists by:
- Removing those who no longer require an appointment or procedure.
- Reducing the number of people who do not attend an appointment because they no longer require treatment.
- Enabling a more efficient booking service by reducing administrative phone calls.
News shared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust, in their own words. Ed
