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Delays in implementing e-booking threaten patient choice agenda

BMJ 2005; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7484.166-a (Published 20 January 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;330:166
  1. Kathryn Godfrey
  1. London

    The roll-out of “e-booking,” the system that allows GPs to book hospital appointments for patients online in the surgery, has been slower than planned and threatens to thwart government targets for patient choice, says a report published this week.

    By the end of December 2004, just 63 hospital appointments had been made online, far short of the 205 000 target that the Department of Health had hoped to achieve, says the report from the National Audit Office. In addition, just seven hospitals—out of the target of 22—had fully implemented their information technology systems.

    The Department of Health needs to manage “significant risk” if it is …

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