GP Surgeries in Wirral to use Text Messaging Services

Wirral, England, 15 July 2009 - Patients of GP practices in Wirral are benefiting from receiving appointment reminders and health information to their mobiles phones via text message.

NHS Wirral has recently funded participating surgeries to launch and operate a Patient Care Messaging service, which aims to inform patients about NHS services, such as cancer screening and immunisation, to reduce the number of people who do not turn up to their appointments.

According to recent research, non-attendance to appointments cost the NHS - and the tax payer - more than £750 million per year. The text message system, called iPLATO Patient Care Messaging, has proven to reduce non-attendance in General Practice by between 26% and 40%. In addition to saving money which can be best used for patient care, NHS Wirral hopes to provide patients with useful health information through this communication channel.

With an estimated 82% of the UK adult population owning a mobile phone, iPLATO Patient Care Messaging aims to reach a significant number of NHS patients. Text messages are free to receive for the patient. If patients choose to respond, they will be charged standard operator rates depending on their individual contract. Participating GP Practices will be asking patients if they are willing to record their mobile contact details for those who wish to benefit from service.  

Barbara Dunton, Deputy Head of Bebington and West Wirral Locality, NHS Wirral, said: “Mobile patient services have proven that they are cost effective and scalable and are, therefore, the way forward in Wirral. We have a diverse population of patients registered with GPs and many already use mobiles to run their daily lives.” She continues, “NHS Wirral chose iPLATO for its long experience in UK primary care.  This system of messaging is functional and secure. It improves service without adding extra work for healthcare staff and links with existing systems used by GPs to book appointments and clinics.”

Anna Commander of the Leasowe Surgery in Twickenham Drive, said: “I absolutely love having the system in the surgery and it has saved so much time. The Appointment reminders are very successful and I have also been able to send SMS messages notifying patients of extended hours over the holiday periods and a surgery open day.” 

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Notes for Editors:

 About NHS Wirral:

NHS Wirral is the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) for Wirral. PCTs first came into being in April 2000. Since their time their role has developed to design, plan and develop better services for patients, ensuring that we get the best value for your money. Your PCT will work with local authorities and other agencies that provide health and social care locally to make sure that your local community’s needs are being met. PCTs are now at the centre of the NHS. As they are local organisations, they are in the best position to understand the needs of their community, so they can make sure that the organisations providing health and social care services are working effectively. For example, your PCT must make sure there are enough services for people within their area and that these services are accessible. They must also make sure that all other health services are provided, including hospitals, dentists, opticians, mental health services, NHS Walk-In Centres, NHS Direct, patient transport (including Accident & Emergency), population screening, pharmacies and opticians. They are also responsible for getting health and social care systems working together to the benefit of patients.

NHS Wirral Press Contact:

Philip Rostance, Senior Communications Manager, on 0151 651 3908

 About iPLATO:

iPLATO is an independent innovation company founded in London in the autumn of 1999. In 2003, iPLATO was awarded a SMART Feasibility Grant by the Department of Trade and Industry to study the feasibility for national implementation of a system to remind outpatients about scheduled appointments using text messaging technology.

2008 saw extensive roll out of iPLATO Patient Care Messaging to GP surgeries across 12 Primary Care Trusts in England. Recognised by the European Commission as one of the top ten early stage technology ventures ready to “reshape their industry and to conquer the global market” iPLATO has also featured on the Red Herring Europe Top 200.

 Our solutions improve patient access to healthcare, deliver population-wide mobile health promotion and support people with long term conditions. Our mission is to support patients in achieving longer, healthier lives.

 Press Contact:

Julia Hanley
Julia.Hanley@iplato.net
One Lyric Square,

London, W6 0NB

www.iplato.net