Choose and Book is a national service that combines electronic booking and a choice of place, date and time for first hospital or clinic appointments.

It revolutionises the old booking system, by allowing patients to choose their initial hospital or clinic appointment, and book it on the spot in the surgery or later on the phone or via the internet.

A 'pocket guide' to Choose and Book is available to download and print. This includes highlights of other supporting guidance. This leaflet is also available to download in A4 format.

How does Choose and Book work?

When a referring clinician and their patient agree that a referral to a specialist is required, the clinician is  able to enter specific search criteria into Choose and Book to generate a list of appropriate services for the patient to choose from. An appointment can be searched for and booked at this point, or the patient is given an Appointment Request Letter that includes their Unique Booking Reference Number (UBRN) and a password. This gives instructions as to how they are able to book their appointment later, on the phone or via the internet. The UBRN and password ensure that only the patient, or someone they have chosen to act on their behalf, can make, change or cancel a booking.

Benefits to patients

• Patients can choose any hospital in England funded by the NHS (this includes NHS hospitals and some independent hospitals).
• Patients can also choose their preferred date and time from the available appointments offered by the hospital provider.
• Patients experience greater convenience and certainty.  With Choose and Book, the choice is yours.
• There is less chance that information will get lost in the post because more correspondence takes place through computers.
• Patients can check the status of their referral and change or cancel appoints easily over the phone or on the internet.

Benefits to NHS staff and clinicians

• GPs can search for services that are available for different conditions and get information on waiting times whilst with the patient.
• Choose and Book helps improve the communication between primary and secondary care and ensures that the patient's journey through the system is transparent and effectively managed.
• Choose and Book's Advice and Guidance facility offers GPs the opportunity to discuss cases electronically with consultants in hospitals, helping to ensure that patients do actually need a referral and, if so, that they are booked into the correct clinic.
• GPs and practice staff see a reduction in the amount of time spent on the paper chase and bureaucracy associated with existing referral processes.
• Did Not Attends (DNAs) have reduced at a number of trusts, because patients have been more involved in deciding where and when they will be seen by a consultant or specialist.
• By reducing the time spent waiting to receive their first outpatient appointment, Choose and Book will help measure and manage the pathway for patients.