Hospital appointment letters unlikely to arrive on time
The local NHS Trust says it is putting extra measures in place to try make sure patients are notified of their hospital appointments in time, as the postal strike continues.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which includes Hammersmith Hospital, Queen Charlotte's and Charing Cross, says it will be contacting patients by telephone and email - and even sending letters by courier to ensure patients don't miss their appointments.
"If you have been referred to the Trust, our staff will make multiple attempts to contact you by telephone at home or work, by mobile or by email with your consent to inform you of your appointment details. Please ensure you have provided your GP with up-to-date contact telephone numbers, and email addresses if possible," a statement from the Trust says.
"When our staff have made contact with you, please ensure you keep your own record of your appointment date, time and location, because unfortunately we cannot guarantee that we will be able to send you an appointment letter.
"If you have an urgent referral and we are unable to contact you by telephone or email, in exceptional circumstances we may send your letter by recorded delivery or via a courier service to your home address."
For further information, please see the outpatients section of the Trust's website.
October 27, 2009