Text reminders help cut missed GP appointments in Lewisham

Link: SMS Alerts Reduce Missed Doctors Appointments by 27%

Healthcare messaging company iPLATO have helped reduce missed appointments across the borough of Lewisham, in South London, thanks to the power of SMS.

The deployment of the companies Patient Care Messaging to GP surgeries across the Lewisham Primary Care Trust area cut missed appointments down by 27% over the last year. Once registered on the system, patients receive reminders about appointments and other health-related messages via SMS straight to their mobile handset.

Honor Oak Practice Manager Marie Searle commented: “We have an ethnically and socially very diverse population in Lewisham. A vast majority of patients already use their mobile phone to run their daily lives and our experience of using this system from both the staff and patients” perspective has been very positive.”