Bay Health and Care Partners media release
Over the past few months, new ways of delivering services via non-face-to-face or digital systems have been trialled across Morecambe Bay in response to the risks posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to keep patients and staff safe.
The transformation of outpatients services has included:
- providing telephone and video outpatient appointments where clinically appropriate
- replacing outpatient appointment letters by post with a text message direct to the patients’ mobile phone with a link to an electronic appointment letter
- electronic booking that gives people more control over their outpatient appointment. A secure text message is sent to patients with a link to date and time options which enables the patient to choose a date and time that suits them.
Dr Sarah Hauxwell, Clinical Director for Core Clinical Services at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Due to the pandemic, we had to look at new ways of delivering services which ensured the safety of our patients and our staff.
“We have introduced a variety of non-face-to-face services including telephone and video consultation. These have had great benefits including reducing travel time and costs for patients, helping them better manage their time, while still having a link to their specialist, as well as keeping staff and patients safe.
“Our intention is to build on the benefits and look at how we can keep delivering appropriate services in this way going forward - depending on clinical need and what is safe for the patient.”
You can find out more about how we are transforming services in the Outpatients Department by watching our animation here. If you would like to update your contact details to receive and book outpatient appointments in the future you can do this here.