Receiving your hospital letters and appointments online

Digital letters

Patients at The Walton Centre are able to view and download their hospital letters online instantly, via the NHS app.

Patients registered on the NHS app will ONLY receive their hospital letters online. This includes both appointment letters, and follow-up letters.

Patients will receive a notification that they have a new letter on the app - check your settings to make sure you receive these from the NHS app.

This service helps us protect the environment and is more cost effective.

If you don't read your letter online, or aren't registered on the app, don't worry - you'll still receive a paper copy through the post. If you are registered on the app, but prefer to receive your letters by post, you can opt out of receiving letters digitally and/or text reminders through the Dr Doctor Patient Engagement Portal (PEP). See the below example.

Screen grab of a mobile phone

Text confirmation and reminders

Some patients also receive confirmation and reminders of their appointment by text message or via push notifications via the NHS App.

For Outpatient and Neurophysiology patients, once their appointment has been booked, their confirmation will come via text rather than letter. Should the text not be received or read, a letter will still be sent.

Patients will receive two text reminders before their appointments, at 14 days and either seven or three days.

If you do not automatically receive text messages to remind you of your appointment and you would like to, enquire about it to your care team during your visit and make sure we have an up-to-date mobile phone number registered for you.

Text reminders will come from this number 07860 039092, links sent to you from this number can be trusted.

If you no longer wish to receive text reminders, you can end the service at any time by replying STOP or speaking to our Patient Access Centre.

Patients for other areas will continue to receive confirmation via letter at this stage.

 

What can I expect?

 

You will receive a text messages to your mobile phone, with details of your booked appointment and reminders ahead of the appointment.

What do I need to do?

 

Make sure that we have your up-to-date mobile number and email address, so that we can contact you. Ask the Patient Access Centre when you book your appointment, or receptionist to check we have these details when you have your next appointment.

Why were text messages introduced?

 

We have introduced text notifications to allow us to:

  • Improve how we communicate with our patients
  • Deliver appointment information to patients faster
  • Provide a reminder to patients before their appointment

Which appointments are included?

 

At the moment, it is just Outpatient and Neurophysiology appointments included.

What is DrDoctor?

 

DrDoctor is a digital health company that aims to modernise how hospitals and patients communicate. Their platform provides a convenient way for patients to manage their appointments while reducing costs and saving time.

I have a new mobile number - can I update it?

 

You can update your contact details by calling the Patient Access Centre or letting the receptionist know when you visit for your next appointment.

I don't want to receive text reminders. Can I opt out?

 

Yes, you can let the Patient Access Centre know, or ring the number on the text message and ask them to switch off reminders. You can also reply STOP to any text message.

However, it is important to note that we will be able to communicate with you quicker about your forthcoming appointments if contact is made digitally.

I accidentally replied STOP to a text message and have stopped receiving text message reminders. How do I start receiving these again?

 

If you have accidentally ended text message reminders by replying STOP, you can receive these reminders again by replying UNSTOP to the last message you received from us.