Most of us are already using the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions or manage GP appointments on a regular basis. But for patients of Sherwood Forest Hospitals (SFH), the NHS App is making even more of a difference to people’s lives.
Since October 2024, in partnership with our App partner Patients Know Best (PKB), SFH patients have been able to receive their hospital letters and manage hospital appointments digitally via their smartphone.
Here’s how local resident Bob (and his wife Janice) learned to get more from their NHS App using PKB…
Bob has lived in Mansfield all his life. Married to Janice for nearly 40 years and both in their early 60s, they were lucky enough to retire early enabling them to spend more time with their grand kids and to enjoy their hobbies.
Both Bob and Janice feel they are quite tech-savvy for their age. They’ve both got smartphones and happily send WhatsApp messages to the grandkids, play sudoku online and are frequent users of their banking apps. They already use the NHS App to order their repeat prescriptions and have even managed their GP appointments via the App too.
However, it wasn’t until last Autumn, when Bob started having chest pains which resulted in a referral to the Cardiology Department at Kings Mill Hospital, that Bob knew that the NHS App was being used by Kings Mill Hospital to send hospital appointment letters.
Bob received his first appointment letter only five days before the date of the appointment. However, since he didn’t have any other plans, he could make the appointment.
Five days later, while Bob (along with Janice) was at Kings Mill Hospital for his appointment, the clinic receptionist mentioned that Bob’s appointment letters had first been sent digitally through PKB via the NHS App. If a patient doesn’t have a PKB account or acknowledge receipt through the NHS App, then a physical letter is sent.
The receptionist suggested that Bob visit a digital support hub being held that day at the Kings Mill KTC, to learn more about PKB and accessing hospital letters via the NHS App.
At the digital support hub, Bob and Janice met Amy – the hospital’s Digital and Social Inclusion Coordinator. Amy was able to show Bob how to access his PKB account via the NHS App, and from there, how to find and view his hospital letters and any hospital appointments.
No more delays in receiving hospital letters. No more confusion about missed appointments. Any letter sent via PKB and the NHS App will be available to read within 48 hours. And even better, Amy showed Bob (and Janice of course) how to turn on NHS App notifications, so they can see when a new item is available to view.
Since then, Bob has had two follow ups with Cardiology. All his appointment letters have been received via the NHS App and PKB.
Digital Letters had been in place at Sherwood Forest Hospitals since October 2020, helping to improve patient communications and enabling cost savings for the hospital.
Hospital letters can be accessed digitally via the NHS App and PKB. To learn more about the NHS App, PKB and Digital Letters at Sherwood Forest Hospitals by visiting their website: NHS App – Sherwood Forest Hospitals
