Dorset County Hospital sending texts to manage outpatient appointments
They want to check if people still need to be seen by NHS teams
If you're waiting for an outpatient appointment at Dorset County Hospital, you're being asked to check your text messages.
The hospital's using a new system called DrDoctor to help manage waiting lists.
Patients are being sent texts to confirm if their appointment is still needed.
Health bosses say they're aware that many patients have been waiting a long time to receive the treatment they need, off the back of the Covid pandemic, so this system aims to help make sure they see people still in need as quickly as possible.
The hospital's asked that if you do receive this text message, please don't ignore it.
How it works
If you are waiting for an appointment, a message will come from the phone number +447860039092, asking you to respond to an online question.
Once you have responded, we will ask you to verify your date of birth - if you are answering on behalf of someone else, please use the patient’s date of birth.
This is so the booking team can confirm that the text message was sent to the right person.
Depending on your response, you will either remain on our waiting list or if requested, we will discharge you back to the care team that referred you.
Comments will only be used to manage waiting lists and will not be reviewed by a clinician.