Choose and Book is a national electronic referral service that allows patients who need an outpatient appointment to choose which hospital or clinic they are referred to by their GP and book a date and time. It was introduced to the NHS in 2003 as a simple electronic booking system and expanded to include hospital choice from 2005.
The system allows patients either to book their appointment at their GP practice, call the national appointments line or through the Healthspace website
An Extended Choice Network was made available in 2007 allowing Choose and Book to include all Foundation Trusts and private sector hospitals accredited by the Department of Health.
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