Booking system for A&E at QA Hospital proves a success in first week

Last week QA Hospital in Cosham became one of the first hospitals in the country to begin using NHS 111 to provide booked time slots for its A&E, rather than joining a queue in a bid to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.

Although patients can still turn up to the department without a slot, it is thought up to 30 people have used the optional booking system every day.

Speaking at a health overview and scrutiny panel (Hosp) meeting, Mark Cubbon the chief executive of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘It's a really exciting development, one our community will support. We are trying to reduce the amount of time patients are waiting in the emergency department.

‘The booking appointment system already had between 20 and 30 patients a day through 111 that came to ED in a matter of hours.

‘Over the next couple of weeks we will ramp up our messaging to the local community about how best to access some some of these services.’

Hosp member, Councillor Philip Raffaelli from Gosport Borough Council, added: ‘The booking system I think is a really great idea. Years ago there was an idea of putting all contact through 111 and groups we spoke to were against it.

‘I think it is a great opportunity and the vast majority of people are happy, but if we get to the point where there is a significant change we would need a consultation.’

Mr Cubbon also indicated that attendance rates at the ED are starting to ‘return to normal’ after lockdown saw a drop.

According to NHS Digital in July 2019 there were 13,997 A&E admissions to Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, and 10,122 in March 2020.

The pilot at QA is being run in partnership with South Central Ambulance Service.

Patients contact 111 either by phone or online and are then allocated a time to attend the ED.

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