We have a free SMS (text) messaging service at the practice in which all patients will automatically be registered to receive free SMS reminders.

Initially the system will be used for sending appointment confirmations and reminders, and we hope to expand the service to offer basic information on whether test results were normal, need repeating, to contact the surgery and so on where appropriate.

It is therefore very important that we have your up to date mobile phone number, so we can send information only to you.

• If the surgery has a mobile phone number recorded for you, we will automatically send appointment confirmations and reminders and other appropriate messages to you, unless you let us know otherwise. Any information sent will be relevant to your healthcare, and will not be from any third-party companies.
• If you do not wish us to send you information in this way, please let us know that you would like to opt out by contacting the practice.
• If you have already let us know you do not wish for us to send you SMS (text) messages, then you do not need to let us know again.

It is hoped this system will greatly reduce the amount of missed appointments the practice currently has, and make more appointments available to those that require them.

Please note to protect patient confidentiality:

• No personal identifiable details will be included in any text messages sent to a mobile phone. Text messages will not be sent to patients under 16 years old, unless it is their own personal mobile phone. This means that parents cannot get text messages about their children’s appointments.
• We cannot send text messages to you, if you share a mobile phone with someone else.
• Some mobile phone networks may reject messages from the service – this is outside of our control.
• Unfortunately you cannot choose which information you want to receive – you either choose to receive all text messages, or receive none.
• You can change your preference at any time; simply ask reception, or when you next phone the surgery.
• Please note that the text messaging service operates on a send-only basis. We do not monitor or reply to any text messages we receive back to this account.