Saolta Enhances Patient Communication with Same-Day Appointment Reminders

Savience is delighted to announce the go-live of enhanced appointment reminders at Saolta University Health Care Group. Patients across the region will now be alerted the very same day whenever their outpatient appointments are cancelled or rescheduled.

This represents a huge step forward from the traditional model of communication, where patients often received updates days later by post -sometimes after the appointment date had already passed.

From Letters to Instant Communication

For years, outpatient appointment changes were communicated primarily by letter. While effective in theory, in practice this led to a number of frustrations:

• Delays in postal delivery meant some patients only discovered their appointment had changed when they arrived at the hospital.
• Uncertainty created anxiety and reduced patient confidence in the system.
• High DNA rates when patients missed rescheduled slots because the letter never reached them in time.

Now, thanks to Savience’s enhanced reminder service, patients are:

• Able to respond and re-engage more quickly with the hospital if a new slot is required.
• Alerted the same day their appointment is cancelled or rescheduled.
• Given clear, concise SMS notifications direct to their phone.

Tackling the Cost of DNAs in Irish Healthcare

The improvement is more than just convenience—it’s a direct response to the scale and cost of DNAs (Did Not Attends):

• Nearly 481,432 outpatient DNAs were recorded nationally in 2022. Reducing this by just 13% could free up 61,000 appointments, valued at approximately €11.6 million.
• Studies estimate that one in six outpatient appointments in Ireland are missed each year, costing the HSE more than €20 million annually.
• At Cork University Hospital alone, DNAs account for 26,000 missed slots in a single year, costing an estimated €1.5 million.

For Saolta, each avoided DNA means capacity is reclaimed, waiting lists are shortened, and resources are better used.

Benefits Beyond Efficiency

For patients, these reminders go beyond convenience:

• No wasted journeys: no one arrives to find an appointment no longer exists.
• Immediate reassurance: same-day clarity removes doubt and builds trust.
• More engaged care: patients feel supported, valued, and part of the process.

For staff, it means:

• More focus on patient care, not paperwork.
• Less time spent chasing DNAs.
• Reduced administrative burden from re-scheduling and re-booking.

Supporting Saolta’s Digital Journey

This enhancement is part of Saolta’s wider digital transformation strategy, aimed at modernising patient access and improving the overall healthcare experience. By adopting a same-day reminder model, Saolta is leading the way in reshaping how hospitals and patients communicate—showing that even small changes in process can deliver major benefits.

Savience is proud to support Saolta on this journey, ensuring that every patient receives timely, accurate, and reliable communication about their care.