Another huge leap digitally for us this week as some outpatient appointment letters* are now being sent digitally to patients. They can view all their appointment details on their smartphone, cancel or confirm their appointment in one click - plus loads of other great features to make life easier for patients.

Rather than waiting for letters to arrive, digital delivery is instant and patients will be able to see and control their appointments at the touch of a button.

  • Patients can access their appointment information anytime and anywhere by smartphone. Details can be emailed and printed off too
  • Appointments can be cancelled with one click, so more patients are likely to cancel, releasing appointments for other waiting patients
  • The appointment can be added directly into the patient’s digital calendar to reduce the risk of forgetting their appointment and keep their treatment on track
  • Work out travel plans with a live home to hospital Google map, and real-time travel times
  • Add speech, reading and translation options to digital text. The letter can also be read aloud in multiple languages to the patient too!
  • Patients less confident with technology, with no access, or those who haven't accessed their unique link will still receive the traditional postal letter

General manager, outpatients & records Katharine Fletcher said "We believe this will reduce non-attendance and wasted appointments; meaning patients can be seen more quickly and services run more efficiently. 

"This is all part of our aim to be as flexible as we can for our patients. Going digital is a logical step on from EPR and we should also reduce our postage costs too."

This is highly secure and tested method. Letters are accessed by a unique link and 4-digit PIN. 

Patients will have 48 hours to access their unique link, after which their digital letter is removed and a papy copy sent in the post.

So for those of you worried about patients who don't use a smartphone - paper letters will still be sent as the link will expire after 48 hours and our back-up paper process kicks in.

* there are still some departments which organise their own letters, including cardiology, radiology, child health and physiotherapy.