Outpatients

Digital Letters

Since October 2023, outpatient appointment letters have been offered digitally to all patients. This includes pre-appointment letters such as appointment confirmation and cancellation letters. You will receive a notification via text or email when a letter has been sent.

In this initial phase, there are some exclusions where you will continue to receive a paper letter. You will not receive a digital letter for:

• Any post-appointment clinic letter
• Letters where you have a form that needs to be completed
• Letters sent to prison or military addresses

What are the benefits of digital letters?

You will be able to receive your letters faster and they are easily accessible anytime on the patient portal. You will be able to view and download your letters online with the option to receive letters in your preferred way. Switching from printing and posting to digital will also save the Trust money and be more environmentally sustainable.

How will I know a letter has been sent?

When a new digital letter is available to you, you will receive a notification via text and/or email.

• Text messages will come from the number 07860 039092
• Emails will come from no-reply@drdoctor.co.uk

How do I view my digital letter?

To view any digitally available letters on your portal, click the secure link in the text/email, or visit my.drdoctor.co.uk and login using either your demographic details or your NHS App login credentials if available.

What if I don't access my emails/read my texts very often?

If you haven't opened your digital letter within two days of it being sent, we will send a printed letter to ensure you don't miss any information.

What if I still want to receive paper copies?

If you do not wish to receive your letters digitally, you can opt out by replying PRINT to the text, or by visiting settings in your portal. You can also ask a member of the team your appointment is booked with to opt you out.

Do I need to sign up for digital letters or will it happen automatically?

You will automatically start to receive your outpatient appointment letters digitally from October 2023. Please check with the team your appointment is booked with that we have your up to date mobile and email. You can opt out easily at any time (see above). If for any reason you haven't opened your digital letter within two days of it being sent, we will send a printed letter to ensure you don't miss any information.

Is my information safe?

Yes. Your information is processed in accordance with data protection laws. Your information will not be shared without your consent and is stored securely using the standards mandated by the NHS. For more information, visit the DrDoctor privacy policy and NHS login privacy notice.

For further information and FAQs, see the instructions section below. You can also visit drdoctor.co.uk/for-patients, or contact the team your appointment is booked with.

Instructions

Receiving notification of a new digital letter

Receiving notification of a new digital letter

You will receive a text message or email notification when you have a new digital letter to view online.

Viewing your letter online

Viewing your letter online

1. Click on the link in your text message or email. You will be taken to the digital letter landing page.

2. Log into the secure patient portal with your last name, date of birth and postcode. Or, if available, you can log in using your existing NHS App username and password.
3. You may be asked if you would like to view your letters online. Choose 'Yes' to continue with paperless, or 'Not now', to set your print preferences later.
4. The letter will then open within an online pdf viewer in your web browser. Here, you can view, download and print your letter. Letters are stored on your portal for future reference.

Print preferences

Print preferences

You can choose how you would like to receive your future letters. You can either choose to continue paperless or choose to receive paper letters in the post. If you choose paperless, there is an automatic print fall-back which means if you do not access your digital letter within two days, a paper letter will automatically be posted to you.

1. On the portal
• On the Letters page, you can opt yourself in or out of being paperless via the banner
• On the Settings page, you can opt yourself in or out of being paperless

2. By text message
• You can respond to the SMS text message with "PRINT" to receive letters in the post going forward, or "DIGITAL" to opt into paperless.
• You will be asked to send another text with your (the patient's) date of birth (DDMMYY) to confirm this change.

3. By calling the hospital
• You can also call the team your appointment is booked with, who can change your print preferences on the portal for you.

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