Hospital reminder messages

Witzend

Cold

Here in Sweden they send text or e-mail (depending on which box you tick) and charge you £30 (350 sek) if you miss an appointment.

High time we did that here. A Swedish friend told me that in Sweden there are small charges for visits to both GP and A&E, nearly everyone pays something for prescriptions (annual cap for those who need a lot) and there’s also a charge for the ‘board’ element of hospital stays.

Yes that is true - in my county

£ 15 GP face to face or £7.50 for telephone appointment

£10-12 for District Nurse/physio/diabetes nurse/dietician etc

£25-30 for planned visit to specialist hospital clinic

£35 for unplanned visit to A&E but free if you have paid to see GP and they have sent you

£10 - inpatient fee per day

Important to add that you don't pay more than £105 in any 12 month period. Once you hit that sum they automatically give you a free-card and you don't pay anymore until the 12 months is up.

Children under 20 - free

Elderly over 85 - free

Small items such as crutches - £10 - you buy them as nobody ever returns them.

Cold

Here in Sweden they send text or e-mail (depending on which box you tick) and charge you £30 (350 sek) if you miss an appointment.

High time we did that here. A Swedish friend told me that in Sweden there are small charges for visits to both GP and A&E, nearly everyone pays something for prescriptions (annual cap for those who need a lot) and there’s also a charge for the ‘board’ element of hospital stays.

Catterygirl

I’ve had two cataracts removed. First one went horribly wrong but was well looked after. Second one appears to have gone well. Not discharged yet.

Would you mind saying what went wrong please only my eyes are so sore all the time and see dark shadows at corner of each eye since cataract op. Been to my optician but they say my eyes look fine.

I once had a conversation with someone at a screening clinic about this.
She tolod me that you only get one appointment notification, which is on paper and sent through the post. All the rest, text messages etc, are reminders!!
They have to make sure people attend I suppose as there are still too many unattended appointments.

I am happy with fines as well as compensation if you turn up and they have no record of your appointment.

I had a routine scan recently, for which I’d had a letter and two text reminders. I got there 20 minutes early and was taken straight in, as the three people before me (the first appointments of the day) hadn’t turned up - they hadn’t been in touch either, though the reminders gave details of how to contact the department and how to cancel. Of course there’ll be good reasons for some last minute “no shows”, but if it works elsewhere, perhaps it is time to start fining the others?

Cold

Here in Sweden they send text or e-mail (depending on which box you tick) and charge you £30 (350 sek) if you miss an appointment.

Time this was implemented here it seems.

I had a phone call today from the eye clinic and an appointment was made followed by an email confirming time and date and the usual reminder that it is a $50 fine (approx. 30 pounds) if I don't show up. Tis the same for all medical, dental and hairdresser appointments here in Western Canada. A couple days before any appointment I'll get a text reminder too.

I’ve had two cataracts removed. First one went horribly wrong but was well looked after. Second one appears to have gone well. Not discharged yet.

One text and one email reminding me of my recent eye hospital appointment, nothing through the post as I’ve opted for electronic communication . That number felt ok, anything more would have felt and been unnecessary.

My real bugbear is another speciality at the same Trust is unable to use electronic communication. Why? I have no idea but with less than regular postal deliveries we’ve struggled with delayed appointment letters and receive no reminders. Seriously frustrating.

If you knew how many no shows the hospitals gets , you’d understand the emails and text messages. Yes you may be reliable but many aren’t , hence the reminders

Here in Sweden they send text or e-mail (depending on which box you tick) and charge you £30 (350 sek) if you miss an appointment.

They re probably so fed up with no shows which cost the hospital money and puts others to be waiting longer

Is it a coincidence it is eyes? I received 2 written and posted, one via email and a phone call for my last. Four is overkill.

My husband needs all the reminders they can possibly send, and even then I have to remind him. But I get what you are saying, total overkill.
I had umpteen emails and messages about my eye appointment.