Digital appointment letters – SFT

10th April 2019

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust introducing digital appointment letters

From April 2019 SFT are introducing electronic patient letters for outpatient patient appointments.  Patients who have a mobile phone number registered with the service will be offered their letter digitally.

If the digital letter is not accessed within 24 hours or no mobile number is held, then a postal letter will be automatically sent and the digital letter deleted.  This new way of working will mean that patients will be able to view all of their appointment details on their smartphone, tablet or computer as well as being able to cancel or confirm their appointment in one-click. Once confirmed, the appointment can then be added directly into the patient’s digital calendar as a further reminder too.

How does it work?

Patients who have a mobile phone number registered with the hospital will be offered their appointment letter digitally which will be sent directly to their smartphone.  Patients receive a text message with a unique link through to the patient portal.

The system is safe and secure, and can only be accessed with the PIN and the patient’s date of birth.  As well as the appointment date and time, the letter also includes any pre-assessment instructions, essential reading and extra information as attachments