Phone lines across South Tees hospitals, including Middlesbrough’s James Cook Hospital, are experiencing “intermittent problems”.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust announced via social media that problems with telephone lines were affecting communications across the trust.
The communications issue is affecting telephone services including the trust’s Patient Connect service which allows out-patients to book and cancel appointments.
The first phase of the Patient Connect Service was launched in October 2017 to bring together all staff dealing with out-patient referrals, booking and patient contact.
Patients looking to cancel appointments more than 24 hours in advance have been advised to use an online form.
A statement posted by the trust to Facebook said: “We are currently experiencing intermittent problems with our telephone lines across the trust.
“This is affecting some incoming calls to our switchboard and Patient Connect.
“Our third party supplier is currently investigating the issue as a matter of urgency.
“If you want to change or cancel an appointment more than 24 hours in advance, just use our online form.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we will keep you informed of progress and further updates when they are available.”
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for comment.
To change or cancel an appointment more than 24 hours in advance visit: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/patients-v…/change-appointment/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here