To set a patient request to wait for a number of days, select 'await reply' on the patient request:
You are given a choice of how long you wish the request to wait for and whether the request should be returned to you after that period if there has been no response from the patient ('Return to assignee') or whether to mark as 'Completed'.
Use the date picker and then the time picker to denote how long you wish to wait. These will be automatically set to the defaults chosen by your practice in 'Settings>System>Time when requests return from waiting/Set waiting days default'
Note: Regardless of whether you choose 'return to assignee' or 'completed' if the patient replies at any point whilst the request is waiting then this will return it back to the current assignee's list where they can see the patient's reply and action accordingly.
End Wait, or Completing the request whilst in waiting
If you go to your 'waiting' list and select one of the requests, you can end the wait by clicking the clock icon with the red dot, or complete the request whilst it's in wait state by clicking the 'tick' icon just next to it:
Inform patient?
You can also choose whether or not you 'Inform the patient that the request has been set to waiting' but this will be unticked by default, 'if no reply, return to' is also set to 'Current assignee' as the default:
Ticking the 'inform patient' box will send the below message to the patient to advise them you are awaiting their reply and they will also be notified if you end the wait state:
