Comment by zimpenfish

> Obviously there were techy people in the NHS that knew that, but nobody was asking them.

Obviously someone did since there was "Choose and Book"[0] which was supposed to be live in 2005[1]. But, as anyone could have predicted, farming the contract out to consultants did not (and has continued to not!) work.

Also pharmacists were calling for themselves being able to electronically book GP appointments for (patients? customers?)[2]

An ICO report[3] also implies there were plans for online appointment bookings in 2006.

[0] Ok, not strictly GP appointments but NHS appointments nonetheless.

[1] https://www.digitalhealth.net/2005/01/e-booking-to-miss-its-...

[2] https://www.digitalhealth.net/2005/12/pharmacists-call-for-g...

[3] https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/documents/1042390/sur...