Scheduled Health Services clinics will be running as usual over the next fortnight, despite industrial action by bus drivers.  Whilst the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure is delivering significant public transport services during the TT fortnight (25 May – 7 June inclusive), the Department of Health is urging any patients who feel that they will be unable to attend a scheduled appointment to contact the service area (using the number on their appointment letter) to enable their slot to be reallocated.
 
Lesley Keenan, Deputy Chief Executive said: “Missed appointment slots, often referred to as ‘Did Not Attends’ or ‘DNAs’, results in lost and wasted capacity in the Island’s Health Service.  If we’re not made aware that someone is unable to attend their appointment, then not only is the slot and staff time wasted; but also a replacement appointment has to be found for that patient, with the potential and needless knock on effect of increasing waiting times for other patients.
 
“We’ll be running our scheduled clinics, both at Noble’s Hospital and in the community – such as podiatry – as usual, despite the industrial action, so if patients are able to attend their appointments, I’d ask that they do so.  If they are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make alternative arrangements and hopefully offer the slot to someone else who is waiting.”
 
A copy of the public transport timetable for the TT period / period of industrial action can be found at www.gov.im/lib/docs/publictransport/Timetables/tttimetable2.pdf.
 
Full details of contact telephone numbers for the Department of Health can be found in the phone book or by visiting www.gov.im/health/contacts.gov.