Hero Health - EMIS Web Support Guide

What is the difference between a "Blocked" slot and an "Unavailable" slot in EMIS Web?

Appointments
Intermediate

In EMIS Web, a Blocked slot sits within a session that is otherwise open, but it is set aside so it cannot be booked. This might be used for a scheduled admin task or to reservedly hold time in the clinician’s diary without offering it to patients. The slot still appears on the system so that staff know the timeframe is not free.

An Unavailable slot indicates the system simply has no scheduled availability at that time, often because no session is running or the practice is closed. These times are not usually visible for booking and may not appear in the same way as blocked slots, as they are not part of any open session.

Using blocked slots can help your team clearly highlight when a clinician is busy or when the slot needs to be kept free. This avoids confusion and double-bookings.
Category
Appointments
Sub category
Availability & schedules
Difficulty
Intermediate

Common questions

Frequently asked questions related to this topic

How do I mark a slot as blocked in EMIS Web?

Why might I block a slot rather than mark it as unavailable in EMIS Web?

Are blocked or unavailable slots visible in patient-facing services in EMIS Web?

What is Hero Health?

Hero is an EMIS and Systm1 integrated messaging, scheduling and triage solution for NHS GPs. You can think of us as an Accurx alternative, but with more sophisticated appointment booking and more configurable care navigation triage.

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