Logan Reid
Hospitals typically remain operational during bank holidays, and individuals are generally advised to keep or rearrange their appointments as needed. However, in certain instances, such as the bank holiday for the Queen's funeral, some non-urgent procedures and clinic appointments may be postponed, while urgent and emergency appointments are prioritized. It is recommended to contact the hospital directly or refer to their website for specific information regarding appointments on bank holidays.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hospitals conduct appointments on bank holidays | Yes, but it depends on the hospital and the type of appointment |
| Hospitals cancel appointments on bank holidays | Yes, but it depends on the hospital and the type of appointment |
| Hospitals urge patients to keep their appointments on bank holidays | Yes |
| Hospitals allow patients to rearrange their appointments on bank holidays | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Hospitals may cancel non-urgent appointments on bank holidays
In the case of the bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on 19 September 2022, several NHS Trusts across the UK did cancel non-urgent procedures and clinic appointments. This included hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, maternity checks, and some cancer treatments. However, COVID-19 vaccination services and urgent and emergency appointments continued to be available.
On other bank holidays, hospitals may choose to remain open and encourage patients to keep their appointments. For example, ahead of the August 2024 bank holiday weekend, healthcare professionals at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals urged local residents to keep or rearrange their appointments. They emphasised the importance of prioritising health and requested that any necessary rearrangements be made as soon as possible to allow allocation of the appointment slot to another patient.
While hospitals may cancel non-urgent appointments on bank holidays, it is not a blanket decision, and the level of service provided can vary across different hospitals and NHS Trusts. It is important for patients to stay informed by checking with their local hospitals or NHS services regarding any changes to their scheduled appointments during bank holidays.
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Hospitals encourage patients to keep their appointments
Hospitals can implement several strategies to encourage patients to keep their appointments. Firstly, offering self-scheduling options and providing an online scheduling system can enhance patient convenience and reduce double-booking. Automated appointment reminders are also effective in reducing no-shows and maintaining a smooth schedule. Hospitals should aim for an ideal reminder window, typically 24 to 72 hours before the appointment, to provide patients with sufficient time to reschedule if needed.
Additionally, hospitals can improve patient satisfaction and reduce cancellations by ensuring responsiveness to follow-up questions and enhancing online access. It is crucial to establish a positive patient-hospital relationship, where patients feel valued and reminded about their upcoming appointments. Hospitals can also incentivise patients to keep appointments through rewards or raffle draws, fostering a sense of appreciation and timely attendance.
Moreover, hospitals should communicate clearly and transparently regarding billing and insurance coverage. By assisting patients in understanding their financial responsibilities, hospitals can reduce uncertainty and encourage appointment attendance. Hospitals can also implement policies that discourage prime-time rescheduling for cancellations, emphasising the value of their services and optimising schedule productivity.
By combining these strategies, hospitals can effectively encourage patients to keep their appointments, improving healthcare access and patient outcomes.
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Patients can rearrange appointments via a patient portal
While hospitals generally remain operational during bank holidays, there may be disruptions to regular services, including scheduled appointments. This decision is typically left to local NHS services, and it is important to stay informed about any changes.
If you have an appointment scheduled during a bank holiday, it is recommended to keep it and prioritise your health. However, if you need to rearrange your appointment, you can do so conveniently through a patient portal.
Patient portals are secure online platforms provided by healthcare systems, hospitals, or clinics. They allow patients to manage their healthcare information and communicate with their healthcare providers efficiently. Through the patient portal, you can access and reschedule appointments at any time, without having to pick up the phone. This feature is particularly useful during busy times, such as bank holidays, when you may need to quickly rearrange your appointment.
To use the patient portal, you will need to create a secure account with a unique username and password. Once logged in, you can view your upcoming appointments and make any necessary changes. Some portals may also offer the ability to schedule appointments in real time.
It is important to note that patient portals should not be used for medical emergencies. In such cases, it is advised to call emergency services or your physician's office immediately. Additionally, for complex health concerns or multiple questions, scheduling an appointment, either virtual or in-person, may be more suitable.
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Hospitals may postpone non-urgent procedures
Hospitals may choose to postpone non-urgent procedures on bank holidays. This was the case for the bank holiday on 19 September 2022, which marked Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. Several NHS Trusts across the UK announced that non-urgent procedures and clinic appointments would be postponed, including hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, maternity checks, and some cancer treatments. However, Covid vaccination services and urgent and emergency appointments were maintained.
The decision to postpone non-urgent procedures on bank holidays is typically made by local NHS services, and it is not a blanket decision. Patients are generally advised to treat their appointments as going ahead unless they are informed otherwise. In the lead-up to bank holidays, hospitals often urge patients to prioritise their health and make every effort to attend their appointments. They also recommend that patients who need to reschedule do so as soon as possible to allow the appointment slot to be offered to another patient.
For example, ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend from 24 to 26 August, healthcare professionals at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) encouraged patients to keep their appointments or rearrange them promptly. Patients can usually reschedule or cancel their appointments by accessing the patient portal, sending an email, or calling a designated phone number.
While hospitals may choose to postpone non-urgent procedures on bank holidays, it is not a given, and the decision is made at the discretion of local NHS services. Patients are generally advised to assume their appointments are going ahead unless informed otherwise.
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Hospitals remain open for urgent and emergency appointments
Hospitals generally remain open for urgent and emergency appointments during bank holidays. However, it is up to local NHS services to decide whether to postpone non-urgent appointments.
For instance, during the bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, several NHS Trusts postponed non-urgent procedures and clinic appointments. Hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, maternity checks, and some cancer treatments were among the postponed appointments.
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) healthcare professionals urged local residents to keep or rearrange their appointments during the August Bank Holiday weekend from 24 to 26 August. Acting Executive Medical Director at DBTH, Dr. Nick Mallaband, commented:
> We understand that the bank holiday can be a busy time for everyone, but it’s essential to prioritise your health. If you have an appointment with us, please make every effort to attend. If you need to rearrange, do so as soon as possible to ensure we can allocate this time to another patient.
Individuals can rearrange or cancel their appointments by accessing the patient portal, emailing the hospital, or calling their appointment line.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospitals do not offer non-emergency appointments on bank holidays. Only essential services like A&E, emergency surgery, labour ward, intensive and coronary care are operational. There are no planned operations, routine consultant ward rounds, outpatient clinics, or diagnostic tests like X-rays and MRIs.
Hospitals often operate with reduced staff on bank holidays, as non-critical staff are given the day off. Additionally, the quality of care tends to be lower on weekends and bank holidays, with an 11% higher hospital mortality rate.
While hospitals do not provide non-essential services on bank holidays, you can still seek advice or treatment from alternative healthcare providers. Options include NHS 111, Walk-in Centres, Urgent Treatment Centres, and Minor Illness/Injury Centres, which are open on bank holidays.
