Surgery reminds patients by text

An SMS system piloted by a doctor’s surgery in south London has proved so successful that it is being introduced at 11 Primary Care Trusts across the capital.

The system, which was developed by iPlato and runs on the Orange network, searches appointment lists and sends an SMS at 7am to every patient with an appointment that day. It can also alert patients for treatment such as a flu injection.

‘We almost have a one-to-one connection with the patient now,’ said Adrian James-Morse, IT co-ordinator at the surgery. ‘Anything which means we don’t have to send letters saves money.’

The cost of a text is 6p, while the estimated total cost of sending a letter is £1.
The scheme has cut missed patient appointments by up to 40 per cent, saving the surgery £12,000 a year. Missed appointments cost the government £162m a year.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said: ‘The potential is there for different uses for this system, such as sending texts in other languages.’