Any NHS people about? Hospital admin question

[Facecream]

Hi
Just wondering if anyone knows if an appointment is booked and is requested to be “over booked” does that mean that the consultant is trying to ensure there’s no loss of the patient is a no show (and hence can take another, the other booked, patient)?
Or does it been it’s an appointment likely to overrun (hence book extra time)?
Or something else?

Normally means you've booked extra patients onto the clinic e.g. in my normal clinic I have 6 half hour slots sometimes I will 'overbook' it and add a 7th

Thank you, that’s what I thought

nirmally means clash of booking over the system might have been different people

@TheOtherWoman2
Thank you: but if it is requested to overbook rather than it was an error if you see what I mean.
I take it that the consultant was asking for extra patients for their clinic

Overbooked means creating a slot to add a patient in where there wasn't one before. Sometimes necessary if a patient needs to be seen sooner, for example if a patient developed a wound problem before their scheduled review. Most clinics have a basic amount of patient who can be added dependant on time required for each appointment, but can be overbooked if needed.

It’s done to accommodate patients who need to be seen but there aren’t any free slots. It means you know clinic will overrun but feel the patient needs to be seen within whatever time frame.

out of interest why?

Too many patients needing an appointment, not enough slots to see them in.

Take things to read, water, snacks and some warm layers in case the heating isn't on. There may be a considerable wait.

Thanks all!! That helps a lot