Adding a Slot Type

To create a new appointment slot type, for example Telephone Consultation:

1. From Appointments Setup, select Slot types from the Appointments Setup menu.
2. The existing slot types display, select Add slot type .
3. The Create Slot Type screen displays:

   

4. Complete as required:
   • Name - Enter a name for the slot for example Telephone Consultation.
     Important - To facilitate reporting on vaccination appointments any COVID vaccination appointment slots should have a Slot Type of COVID VACS. This is essential in England however it is recommended elsewhere to help manage your appointment books. See Slot Types Overview for more information.
   • Web booking - Tick if you want this type of slot to be available for your patients to book online, as well as from within the practice.
   • Non-viewable - Tick to display this type of slot in the practice only. No confirmation emails or SMS texts generate for the patients booked into these slot types.
   • Short Name - Enter a unique short name for this slot type of between 2 and 5 characters.
   • Duration - Set the default length of this slot type, this can be changed when an appointment is booked.
   • Delivery Channel (England only) - For GP Connect Appointments only, select how the appointment created from this slot type is to be delivered from the available list, for example, by telephone, in person, by video.
     See GP Connect Appointments for more details.
   • National Category (England only) - Set a category that fits the slot type using the Setting, Type or Category lists.
     English practices - See National Slot Categorisation for information on slot categories.
   • Available for booking - Optional, select to define how far in advance an appointment created from this slot type can be booked. The options are:
     • Immediately - Default setting.
     • Hours prior - Set how many hours in advance the slot can be booked.
     • On day - The slot is made available on the same day.
     • 1 day prior - The slot is made available one day in advance.
     • 2 days prior - The slot is made available two days in advance.
     • 3 days prior - The slot is made available three days in advance.
     • 1 week prior - The slot is made available one week in advance.
     • Non-bookable - The slot is not available to be booked.
     • Custom - Set the number of days in advance the slot can be booked.
     Important - Slot Type Restrictions do not apply for web enabled slots when being booked by your patients.
   • Advisory Message - Optional, enter a message to display when an appointment created from this slot type is selected. If you have selected an Available for booking other than Immediately, you can enter a warning message to display if the slot is selected outside of the specified time period.
   • Colour - Select the black box and the Slot Type Colour screen displays:

     

     Select from the palette, optionally, tick Show unused colours, to avoid duplicating colours.

5. Select Apply to save the new slot type.
6. Optional, drag the new slot type to the position in the list you require.
   Note - When creating sessions, the slot type at the top of the list is the default slot type.

7. Select Save to save your changes, Reset to cancel any changes or Sort (A-Z) to reorder the list.