Patients can manage their health using digital technology at Harrogate

From Monday 21 October 2024, many Harrogate and District Hospital patients will receive an email or text message inviting them to register for this service, which is free to use and can also be accessed via the NHS app.

The patient-powered digital service, Patients Know Best, is designed to improve patient experience. Patients who sign up can access most of their outpatient appointments at Harrogate District Hospital, online and via the NHS app.  They are also able to request cancellations and amendments to appointments.

“The patient portal is a really convenient and easy way of accessing and changing your appointments”, explained Dr Gui Tran, a lead for outpatient transformation in Harrogate. “It means you don’t have to wait for the letter to arrive in the post. But if it’s not right for you, we will continue to send letters in the post”, Dr Tran added.

Using the service means that patients have their appointment letters safely stored on their mobile phone, so that they can easily access them when they arrive at hospital. No more hunting round looking for the letter, as you are leaving home!

Accounts can be shared with trusted family members or friends, helping those who rely on others for transport or support during appointments.  This might not be right for everyone, if privacy is a concern, as once the account is shared, information about all appointments are visible to the person it is shared with.

To date, more than 30,000 patients at Harrogate District Hospital are registered with Patients Know Best. Over 1,200 appointment letters are being read every week using the online patient portal, instead of letters being printed and posted. This has also helped us reduce postage and administrative costs, which can be reinvested into the Trust’s services. 

Simplifying the process of requesting appointment changes or cancellations, has helped to reduce the number of missed appointments at Harrogate District Hospital. This has ensured that the time can be repurposed to increase clinical efficiency and patient engagement.

For more information, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust patients should visit the Trust’s website at hdft.nhs.uk