What's new - Repeat Prescriptions...
To read more about this new service click here
DigiTV and GP Appointments - Background
Over 1,100 surgeries using EMIS Access are now in a position to offer their patients the ability to book, amend and cancel GP appointments and Repeat prescriptions via digital interactive TV and mobile. DigiTV in partnership with EMIS - http://www.emis-online.com/about-us/partners/ has extended the successful GP booking service with the aim of reaching households across the digital divide.
Patients across the country are now able to access their GP's appointment book and order repeat prescriptions just by pushing a few buttons on their remote control or mobile phone. EMIS has already made this facility available to internet users, so it was a natural extension to make it available on DiTV and mobile phones.
Who is using this service?
Local authorities across the UK engaged with DigiTV have already been allowing local surgeries to have access to the DiTV booking system via their microsites for some time now and statistics prove that following the implementation of the service there were fewer DNAs (Do Not Attends). This has led to savings in the GP surgeries and allows for a smoother flow of patients through the waiting room.
BBC Midlands today covered the story of a patient and GP using the service, highlighting the benefits - To watch the video clip go to http://tiny.cc/MnRzx
How do patients use the service?
Surgeries using EMIS Access will already be handing out usernames and passwords to their patients, and it is this same information that is required to allow the patient to access GP Appointments via their television.
Once at home, users are required to visit the "New User" section and activate the details given by the surgery. This includes the Practice ID, Access ID, PIN number and the individuals NHS number. Then using the details provided the patient can book, amend or cancel an appointment depending on how they are feeling. GP appointment booking and repeat prescriptions is available via Looking Local on the interactive menus on Sky, Virgin media (Telewest:NTL) Freeview boxes with a modem or broadband connection and mobile phones.
Details on how to access Looking Local can be found here - Looking Local Pathways
How can you advertise this service?
Making sure patients know that this service is available and more importantly how to use it is key to ensuring it is successful. Trent Vale Medical Practice is a great example of how to get this right. Firstly they placed details about the service on their website as well as ensuring articles appeared in the local press and patients received handouts designed and printed in house - Trent Vale Medical Practice.
Local authorities should consider placing an article in residents newsletters and ensuring other departments within the council are aware that the service exists. Those in contact with possible vulnerable, elderly or housebound customers are a good example of this.
To view the marketing material, a local generic press release for repeat prescriptions and the promotional leaflets jointly created by North Staffordshire PCT and Stoke on Trent local authority please go to - GP Appointments Marketing
If you would like to know if surgeries in your area are using EMIS Access, please contact your account manager for further information. In order to help local surgeries and PCT's understand the benefits of this service are we have created a page of specific information for GP surgeries.
What do I need to do now?
Many of you will already have the link to "GP appointments" or "Doctors appointments" on your microsites, but we would like to suggest that you go to your site and edit the name of this link to read "GP Services" as this will then cover the addition of repeat prescriptions.
For all DigiTV bureau service customers this change has already been made for you. If you do not already have a GP appointments link on your microsite, then please visit the how to link to section where you will be presented with two options on how to complete this. Alternatively please contact Nic Colley or Paul Meyers on 01757 638154.
