C&B incentives drop but use is steady

Less than a quarter of primary care trusts now pay GPs for using Choose and Book, according to latest figures.

Information released to GP magazine Pulse under the Freedom of Information Act shows that out of 129 PCTs who responded, 33 were offering GP practices a Choose and Book local enhanced service scheme in 2010-11, compared to 49 in 2009-10.

However, use of Choose and Book has not declined. NHS Connecting for Health said utilisation of the online booking system is so far higher in 2010-11 than in the same period of 2009-10.

In June, the latest month for which full outturn data is available, Choose and Book was used for 53% of first outpatient appointments, the same percentage as in June 2009.

The figure had risen to 58% at the beginning of this year. Although it now seems to have dropped back slightly, CfH said that monthly booking volumes are rising both for first outpatient referrals and for all bookings.

The agency said that the volume of other services booked on Choose and Book was 133,000 in July 2010, compared to 116,000 in July 2009. The figures include more bookings for PCT-led outpatient services and PCT assessment services than in July 2009.

The coalition government committed to “maximise the use” of Choose and Book in its white paper, 'Liberating the NHS', making a pledge to change the standard acute contract so that hospitals were require to list named consultants on Choose and Book.

Version 5.0 of Choose and Book is due to be released at the end of next month. It will include functionality to enable appointment slot issues to be dealt with more smoothly and better functionality to support commissioners.