Press Release

22 January 2008

St Peters Radiology department books its first X-ray via electronic system

St Peters is following in the footsteps of St Michael’s hospital in Braintree as they have just X-rayed their first patient who was booked via the Choose & Book NHS electronic booking system.

The appointment for Richard Myson from Maldon to have an X-ray at St Peter’s hospital was made using the Choose and Book system during his consultation at his GP surgery.  Mr Myson was able to leave the surgery knowing the time and location for his X-ray rather than having to ring the radiology department for an appointment.

Mr Myson said:” I was very pleased to be able to decide a convenient time and place for my X-ray with my GP.  This meant I left the surgery knowing where and when I had to go.  I am a very busy person and this saved me a lot of time and did not have to worry about making an appointment; I just had to turn up.
Choose and Book is a national electronic referral service which gives patients a choice of place, date and time for their first appointment in a hospital or clinic. 

Richard Hammond, general manager for radiology at Mid Essex Hospitals said:” We are the first Trust to offer directly bookable appointments in diagnostics via the Choose and Book system.   Initially we have introduced this as a pilot project to ensure the system is working correctly.  We have released all of our plain film X-ray appointments at St Michael’s hospital in Braintree and St Peters hospital in Maldon onto the Choose and Book system, currently only GP’s in The Maldon & Braintree area are able to book into this pilot scheme.   Shortly, we will make available the appointments for plain film X-rays at St John’s in Chelmsford.  This year we will extend this to introduce other diagnostic tests such as barium enemas and ultrasound screening onto the system. 

ENDS

Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948