Our Trust has launched a new Patient Engagement Portal (PEP), from the provider DrDoctor. The portal will help us make more information available in the NHS App.

When an appointment is booked for the services that use DrDoctor, you will receive an NHS App notification alerting you that you have a new appointment. You will also receive a link to your new appointment letter. You can also reschedule your appointment in the NHS App.

Please switch on NHS App notifications for your appointment updates. More details are available on the NHS website.

DrDoctor will also send reminders in the days leading up to your appointment and give you the option to reschedule or cancel directly through text message if needed.

Appointment notifications will appear first in the NHS App. If you don’t view the information in the app, or if you don’t have the app, a text message will be sent to the number you have registered on our system.

DrDoctor also allows the Trust to contact you by text if an appointment you are waiting for becomes available or if there are short notice changes to your appointment details.

All text messages from the Trust will come from the number 07860 039 092. This is a genuine number, and we recommend saving it in your phone so you can easily recognise messages from us.

The introduction of DrDoctor is designed to improve the patient experience by providing faster notifications and helping to reduce missed appointments in outpatient clinics. Using digital letters allows us to notify you immediately when you have an appointment, while also helping the NHS save money by reducing the use of paper and postage.

Phased Approach

It is important to note that DrDoctor is launching in phases and is currently available for appointments across a wide range of specialties. Alongside Ear, Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Urology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Gynaecology Oncology, Respiratory and Colorectal, you can now also use the system for Upper GI, General Surgery, Breast, Gastroenterology and Hepatology services. More services will continue to be added throughout 2025, and this page will be kept up to date with the latest availability.

Accessing DrDoctor for the first time

You can access DrDoctor here. You will be asked for your last name, date of birth and postcode. You will then need to confirm your mobile number through entering a verification code, before accepting a privacy notice. Please note that the details you use will be the details we have on our system for you.

Having trouble accessing the PEP?

Please check you are using the correct link.  The details you are asked to enter are based on the records we have at the hospital, so if the system is saying your details aren’t recognised, please call us to check we have the most recent information for you. Similarly, when confirming your mobile number, you will need to call us directly if this has changed.

Find out more – Watch our online videos

Viewing Your Letter Online

Receiving Letters

Online letters

Frequently Asked Questions

A Patient Engagement Portal is designed to help us as a care provider communicate with you, as a patient. This includes notifications through text/email about appointments, as well as adding the information to the NHS app. In the future, it will also allow us to do other things such as sending you forms to complete, saving you time.

DrDoctor helps us transfer information about your care from our systems into the NHS App. The NHS App is unable to link with all of the different hospital systems around England, therefore, a Patient Engagement Portal acts as the “middle man” to transfer the information.

It is also important to note that although we encourage the use of the NHS app, some people may not have it or may not be able to access it. Therefore, a direct link to the portal may be useful.

Text messages will come from 07860 039 092. This number is genuine and can be trusted. We recommend you save this number for future reference.

When you access DrDoctor, it will need to check your record to check who you are. It will do this by asking for your name, date of birth and postcode. The details you are asked to enter are based on the records we have at the hospital, so if the system is saying your details aren’t recognised, please call us to check we have the most recent information for you.

DrDoctor is only currently live in our Ear Nose and Throat service, therefore, only patients attending appointments in this service will receive communications from the system. As more services go live throughout 2025, more patients will benefit from the system.

If you are a patient in a live service and are still not receiving digital communications then it is important to check we have the right contact details for you. Please call us directly to do this.

Yes, you can still get a paper copy of your appointment letter. You can request this by replying “Print” to the text message. If you don’t view your digital letter, we will send you a copy in the post. You can also opt out of all digital communication by replying “Stop”. This will mean you will be sent paper copies every time.

You can also call us on 01743 261044 to change your options.

Currently, DrDoctor is only being used for letters about appointments. Letters about your care, such as appointment summaries, will still be posted to you.

Please make sure you contact our booking team to let us know of your requirements. The team can then add an accessibility alert to your record.

We are committed to providing information in formats that meet accessibility needs. If you have an accessibility alert on your record, then depending on the type of alert, you will either receive your letter digitally, on paper, or both.

We can deliver the following accessibility requirements digitally:

  • large font: letters will be delivered digitally in large font
  • easy read: letters will be delivered digitally in easy read
  • yellow background format: letters will be delivered digitally with a yellow background
  • braille: letters will be available digitally but will also be sent to you through the post
  • audio: letters will be available digitally but will also be sent to you through email

You do not need the NHS App to view the information sent to you through the Patient Portal via text messages. However, if you are registered with a GP in England and have the NHS app, you will be notified about your appointment details and other health information through the NHS App. This includes information from both your GP and our hospital. We recommend enabling notifications to ensure you get the full use of the service and receive updates promptly. If you do not view the notification in the app, a follow-up text message will be sent.

Updating your contact details online will not directly update our systems Therefore, it is important that you update your details with us directly to make sure you are getting all the information you need.

DrDoctor is a secure communication platform used by the Trust. It tells service users about appointments digitally and provides important healthcare information. DrDoctor will have access to your contact information but not any information about your health. It adheres to strict privacy and security standards to protect your information. Your data is only accessible to authorised healthcare professionals involved in your care.

For more information on the DrDoctor privacy policy and data protection, please visit Privacy Policy – DrDoctor.

For more information about the NHS App, see the NHS App privacy policies.