A secure, automated appointment booking service developed by Vapour Cloud for the NHS has been integrated with EMIS Web, the clinical system for GPs.
Vapour Cloud's solution allows patients to book, cancel or change their appointment 24/7 via their telephone. An automated SMS confirmation is sent to the patient and the doctor’s diary is updated in real-time.
CEO Tim Mercer said: “With the increasing tendency for patients to use automated services, I’d expect this solution to pick up around 20% of calls to a GP surgery which would have a huge impact on easing pressure on receptionists and staffing budgets.
“Like many other industries, healthcare is moving towards cloud-based technologies to drive efficiencies and streamline processes for employees, ultimately delivering enhanced services to patients at the same time.
"We’ve seen tremendous advancements in the US in this respect, so it’s crucial that the UK follows suit, especially given the pressures being encountered by the NHS.”