From Tuesday 19 November patients with appointments at Ipswich Hospital will be able to see appointment letters and details online through the hospital’s new patient portal.
Next time an appointment is booked, patients with a registered mobile phone number will be sent a text message inviting them to sign up to the system and the chance to turn off paper appointment letters, following a short and secure sign-up process.
Ipswich Hospital Chief Executive Nick Hulme said, “We know that one of the things that causes our patients and their families additional stress is how confusing it can be to keep track of correspondence with the hospital.
Patients will be able to access their appointment letters and information online, wherever they are.
“Almost 600,000 appointments are booked at Ipswich Hospital each year, which generates an enormous number of letters and other administration work for our patients, not to mention the travel that is involved with coming to hospital. A lost letter or forgotten appointment can create a lot of unnecessary stress and wasted time.”
Lead consultant for the portal, Elizabeth Pinder, one of the hospital’s orthopaedic surgeons, said, “The feedback we’ve had from patients so far has been really positive. It is voluntary so people can continue to receive paper appointment letters if they wish. The people using the portal are telling us that it is easy to sign up and view their appointment details. This can only be good for our patients.”
The system will be rolled out across Ipswich Hospital over the coming months, and there are plans to have the new patient portal at Colchester Hospital too during 2020.
Patients can read more information about the Patient Portal on our website.
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