NHS Scotland is using text messaging to make sure that their waiting lists are up to date and to check whether patients still need their appointments or surgery.
From June 2024, all patients in NHS Scotland who are on a waiting list for an orthopaedic, endoscopy or dermatology appointment or procedure will get a text message from the National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) on mobile number 07860 039092. This will include a link to a short survey asking if patients still need their appointment, followed by a few questions to confirm their identity. People who are answering the survey on behalf of someone else must provide the patient’s details at this stage.
Katherine Sutton, NHS Highland’s Chief Operating Officer for Acute Services, explains:
“The National Elective Coordination Unit supports local NHS Boards such as NHS Highland to ensure that information held on NHS Scotland waiting lists is accurate, helping us to reallocate any appointments or operations that are no longer needed to others on the waiting list.
“If you are waiting for an orthopaedic, endoscopy or dermatology appointment within NHS Highland we would ask you to please not ignore this message. Click on the link in your message to complete the survey and follow the simple instructions.
"We also want to reassure our patients that the information gathered will only be used to manage our waiting lists and all information shared will be kept safe and secure.
“This service has been used by a number of boards over the last year and has been extremely successful in determining, not only if the appointment was still required, but in prioritising urgent cases."
Hosted by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery at NHS Golden Jubilee, NECU supports local NHS Boards to ensure that information held on NHS Scotland waiting lists is accurate, and to help reallocate any appointments that are no longer needed to others on the waiting list.
NHS Golden Jubilee has signed a Data Processing Agreement with the supplier on behalf of the NECU and it adheres to all NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Scotland clinical and information governance standards, policies and procedures.