A year ago today we launched DrDoctor, our interactive messaging service for appointments and reminders.
In that time, more than 650,000 digital letters have been sent to patients’ mobile devices. If we’d posted the letters to everyone, it would have cost more than £484,000 (based on 2nd class postage), and roughly 75 trees would have been lost.
CHFT Transformation Manager, Claire Sibbald, said: “It’s been really encouraging to see that more than 72% of patients have accessed their letters and information digitally.
“Apart from the savings both financially and environmentally, it’s obviously much quicker than waiting for the post. The knock-on effects mean that patients have more time to organise any time off they may need, sort childcare or rearrange their appointment if necessary.”
Around 65% of patients read their letters within 24 hours and the shortest time taken to view a letter from receiving a text message was 72 seconds.
Patients who have provided us with a private mobile phone number and email will receive information about their appointments via e-mail and/or text messages from 07860 039 092.
We appreciate that some people may not be able to access their information this way. So, if they don’t read their letter within 72 hours, a letter is posted automatically.
You can read more on our Patient Portal pages.