Text reminders for doctors' appointments

Patients in west London will soon be getting text messages when they have a doctor's appointment.

Ealing Primary Care Trust (PCT) is rolling out text message reminders across 22 surgeries as GPs try to reduce the number of missed appointments.

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To use the free service, patients register their mobile phone numbers at their surgeries.

One of the pilot GP practices, the Hillview Surgery in Perivale, reported that the system has led to a 30 per cent drop in the number of patients who miss appointments.

Ealing PCT service development manager Keith Martin said mobile patient services are the way forward because they have proven they are cost effective and scalable - and many already use mobiles to run their daily lives.

Martin said the texting system improves service without adding extra work for healthcare staff, and integrates with existing systems used by GPs to book appointments and clinics.

The Trust is using the iPlato patient care messaging system and the Orange network.

As well as appointment reminders the system can send health messages such as invitations to receive flu jabs or attend asthma clinics, and saves time for staff by reducing the need to send letters or make phone calls.

Earlier this week the chief executive of O2 criticised the public sector for being in the "dark ages" when it comes to mobile technology.