Bournemouth, Christchurch, Health & Lifestyle, Poole | Posted on December 4th, 2025 | return to news

Managing hospital appointments in Dorset during December

Patients of the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals have a new way to manage appointments this December.

During December, patients of University Hospitals Dorset – Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals – could find it easier to manage their appointments at outpatient clinics.

An automated system is being piloted to enable people to cancel or reschedule appointments via SMS, email, or by logging into the DrDoctor patient portal.

This will reduce wasted time due to non-attendance and remove the need to call the hospital.

When rescheduling, patients are shown live availability of alternative appointment slots, making it easier to find a time that suits them.

Any rescheduling or cancellation is immediately reflected in the hospital’s records, ensuring accuracy and freeing up slots for others.

While the system is patient-led, hospitals may review or approve changes for certain high-priority appointments.

If no suitable slot is selected, or the rescheduling process isn’t completed, the system ensures the original appointment is retained or flagged for manual follow-up by staff.

The system uses bi-directional integration with hospital systems and maintains a full audit trail, ensuring appointment data is safe and traceable.

Tags: #universityhospitalsdorset