We regularly contact patients who are waiting for an appointment. This is called a wait list audit.

Eastern Health uses the ‘VicKey – Hospital Care Portal’ to conduct our Waitlist Audit’s.

You can find more information about the ‘VicKey – Hospital Care Portal’ here.

Contacting you during the wait list audit process helps us to:

  • ensure your details are correct
  • ask if you still require our specialist care
  • provide advice where necessary for urgent care

If you are waiting for appointments from more than one speciality, you will receive separate communication for each.

  • If you have provided your mobile number, we will send you a text message via the VicKey – Hospital Care Portal.
  • If you have not provided a phone number, or we have had no response to the text message, we will send you a letter.
  • Please note that if you require appointments for more than one specialty, you will receive separate communication from us for each specialty. Please make sure you check the specialty before responding to the text message. 

We need this information to ensure:

  • your contact details have not changed
  • you still require our care

You will need to respond with ‘Yes’ if you still require our care.

You will need to respond with ‘No’ if you no longer require your appointment.

For example, if you have been treated elsewhere or if you have improved. 

  • If you do not reply to our first text message, we will send you a second text message as a reminder.
  • If we do not receive a response to either text message, we will contact your General Practitioner (GP) to confirm your contact details and then send you a validation letter via post.
  • If we do not receive a response within 4 weeks of us sending a letter, we will remove you from the Waiting List. Any future need will require a new referral from your GP.

If you answer ‘No’ to requiring your appointment, we will remove you from our waiting list and send you a letter as confirmation. Any future need will require a new referral from your GP.

If you say ‘Yes’ to requiring your appointment, we will contact you when we are ready to offer an appointment.

We continue to work with our specialists to reduce your waiting time.

We recommend you contact your General Practitioner (GP).

In the case of an emergency, please attend the nearest hospital Emergency Department.

The link is valid for 7 days. After this, it will expire, but we still need your response to avoid removal from the waiting list.

You can respond in one of two ways:

  1. Call us on 9895 3346:
    If you reach voicemail, leave your name, date of birth, waiting list specialty and whether you wish to remain on or be removed from the waiting list.

  2. Use the Patient Enquiry Form:
    Select “I received a validation SMS or letter”, provide the requested information and submit the form.

 

You have 28 days from the date of the letter to let us know whether you wish to remain on or be removed from the waiting list.

If you are unable to call, you can respond online using the Patient Enquiry Form. When filling out the form, select “I received a validation SMS or letter”, provide the requested information and submit the form.

We will process your response as soon as possible and send you a confirmation letter once completed.

However, the Patient Enquiry Form is not an option if you have received a Wait List Removal letter. If you have received a Wait List Removal letter and would like to remain on the waiting list, you will be required to call us on 9895 3346 to discuss your options and confirm your details as we received no response to our 3 attempts of contacting you. If you reach our voicemail, leave your name, date of birth, waiting list specialty, and phone number so we can call you back as soon as possible.