Hong Kong women able to use phone app to book appointments at specialist gynaecology clinics from today
The Hospital Authority hopes the new scheme, which will be extended to other specialist clinics in coming three years, will save time for patients
Patients visiting the Hospital Authority’s gynaecology specialist outpatient clinics can avoid potentially long queues by booking their first appointment from today through a mobile app.
The app, named BookHA and costing HK$500,000 to develop, also allows patients to check their application status at any time and anywhere.
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Previously, patients seeking a new appointment either had to visit a clinic in person or fax an application. The clinics operate mostly during office hours.
Applications for new appointments at any of the 14 public hospitals offering a special gynaecology service can be made simply by entering personal information, including full name, Hong Kong identity card number and phone number, and uploading images of an identity document, address and referral letters. An SMS is sent automatically to the applicant’s phone immediately to acknowledge the application.
Bookings are processed by staff in a central booking centre in Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Patients with urgent conditions receive another SMS confirming an appointment date shortly after the application, while non-urgent applicants are notified within 21 days.
“Applications can be made easily at home. It’s better than lining up at the office window [of the clinic]. Patients do not have to ask for leave just to make an application,” said Chan Lai-hung, chairwoman of the authority’s working group on specialist outpatient clinic operations.