RU well? GPs to text patients

THOUSANDS of patients in Oldham are set to receive text messages from their GP — and help save £750million.

Residents in the borough will be contacted over a range of issues ranging from appointment reminders to health messages about quitting smoking.

The innovative scheme is being introduced across the borough with several practices already up and running.

Nationally, £750 million of taxpayers’ money is wasted on missed appointments every year.

Karen Smith, practice manager at St Chad’s Medical Centre, Limeside, said: “People are so busy today it is easy to forget an appointment.

“An estimated 82 per cent of the UK adult population owns a mobile phone so this is an ideal way to do our bit to help people manage their busy lives.

“We’ve had such positive feedback from patients and people are actually asking to be signed up.

“We are proud to be one of the first practices in Oldham to sign up for this and welcome any queries or comments from our patients.”

Shauna Dixon, director of clinical leadership at Oldham Primary Care Trust(PCT), said: “A fantastic benefit of this system is being able to send out messages in a number of languages.

“We would like to reassure people that we have strict guidelines in place to ensure the safety of patient details.

“Patients are able to opt out if they wish by simply telling their GP or any practice staff.”