Miss-Delectable
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Hospital texting scheme for deaf patients praised (From Gazette)
A NEW scheme to remind deaf patients about appointments using text messages has been welcomed.
Tom Felton, chief executive of the Royal Association for Deaf People in Colchester, said he hoped it was the first step towards bigger things.
It is a new service launched by Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust aimed at making sure patients attend their audiology appointments.
The new scheme will affect about 1,000 patients and is part of an ongoing six-month trial of an outpatient appointment confirmation service which began in December.
Mr Felton said: “This service is only available to confirm audiology appointments, but it is very welcome especially for the improvement of audiology services and the example it sets to other hospital departments and GPs.
“Our clients want to be able to book appointments by SMS as well as confirming them.
“If this is a first step towards communicating with our clients, we would be very pleased.”
Rachel Fahie, from Age Concern Colchester, said she supported the idea in principle, but felt it would be difficult for older people.
She said: “It is a positive move, but it’s not a solution.
“A lot of older people have mobile phones, but there are a fair number who don’t. What’s wrong with sending a letter, I wonder?
“Older people tend not to miss appointments because they value the health service, so I wonder what research they have done?
“It probably would be a benefit for people who are hard of hearing because if they are having problems communicating, this is a good way to do it.”
Currently, patients receive an automated telephone call which confirms their appointment or gives them the option to change it.
Project manager Malcolm Harmer, from the hospital, explained this is not appropriate for all patients.
He said: “The current service involves patients receiving a reminder of their appointment either via an automated or personal call.
“Clearly, this is inappropriate for people who are hard of hearing, so we are about to begin a text reminder service.
“Patients will be able to reply with a single word text.
“Our audiology staff say that although many of their patients are elderly, a high proportion have and use mobile phones which is likely to grow in the future, so we believe this new service will be welcomed.”
A NEW scheme to remind deaf patients about appointments using text messages has been welcomed.
Tom Felton, chief executive of the Royal Association for Deaf People in Colchester, said he hoped it was the first step towards bigger things.
It is a new service launched by Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust aimed at making sure patients attend their audiology appointments.
The new scheme will affect about 1,000 patients and is part of an ongoing six-month trial of an outpatient appointment confirmation service which began in December.
Mr Felton said: “This service is only available to confirm audiology appointments, but it is very welcome especially for the improvement of audiology services and the example it sets to other hospital departments and GPs.
“Our clients want to be able to book appointments by SMS as well as confirming them.
“If this is a first step towards communicating with our clients, we would be very pleased.”
Rachel Fahie, from Age Concern Colchester, said she supported the idea in principle, but felt it would be difficult for older people.
She said: “It is a positive move, but it’s not a solution.
“A lot of older people have mobile phones, but there are a fair number who don’t. What’s wrong with sending a letter, I wonder?
“Older people tend not to miss appointments because they value the health service, so I wonder what research they have done?
“It probably would be a benefit for people who are hard of hearing because if they are having problems communicating, this is a good way to do it.”
Currently, patients receive an automated telephone call which confirms their appointment or gives them the option to change it.
Project manager Malcolm Harmer, from the hospital, explained this is not appropriate for all patients.
He said: “The current service involves patients receiving a reminder of their appointment either via an automated or personal call.
“Clearly, this is inappropriate for people who are hard of hearing, so we are about to begin a text reminder service.
“Patients will be able to reply with a single word text.
“Our audiology staff say that although many of their patients are elderly, a high proportion have and use mobile phones which is likely to grow in the future, so we believe this new service will be welcomed.”
