False Tays appointment texts linked to OmaPirha migration

A patient from Viljakkala, Janne, travelled to Tays' musculoskeletal outpatient clinic on Monday after receiving a text reminder for a 9 a.m. appointment, but clinic staff found no booking in the system, Tamperelainen reports.

The reminder had been sent by Pirha the previous Thursday. In OmaPirha the service showed three unread messages that opened empty, but no reservation could be found.

Another patient at the clinic experienced the same mismatch. Janne, who usually uses a Kela taxi because of mobility limitations, had relied on a friend's lift for the visit.

Olli Leppänen, Tays' chief physician for hospital services, said the episode was most likely human error and that he had not heard of widespread false bookings elsewhere at Tays. He noted the recent switch from OmaTays to the new OmaPirha system, rolled out at Tays between 6 and 9 November, can increase staff workload and cause teething problems. Patients were advised to check their contact details in OmaPirha and to expect future appointment notices via Suomi.fi messages.

The incident follows earlier guidance that Tays appointments and reminders would move to OmaPirha and Suomi.fi in early November the October guidance on the move. It also comes after the wider Pirkanmaa migration that took place 6–9 November the November system migration.