NHS should ditch letters for email, Health Secretary to say

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk- ... ry-to-say/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Matt Hancock will say a letter lost in the post could be the difference between life and death.

The NHS should email patients rather than rely on letters – which can mean “the difference between life and death” if lost, the Health Secretary is expected to say.

Matt Hancock will say email should be the default way of communicating for the health service by 2021, The Times has reported.

Mr Hancock will tell an NHS England conference: “Having to deal with outdated technology is hugely frustrating for staff and patients alike – and in many cases, downright dangerous.

Matt Hancock, Health Secretary
“A letter lost in the post could be the difference between life and death.”

Mr Hancock is expected to say that email systems are secure enough to protect patient data, and could prevent patients from waiting days for communication from their doctor.

He will add: “Today’s guidance confirms there is no reason why a doctor cannot email a patient confidentially, for example, with their test results or a prescription, rather than make them wait days for a letter or ask them to come into the surgery.

“The rest of the world runs on email, and the NHS should too.”

The announcement has been met with mixed reaction from professionals.

Carrie MacEwen, chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, told The Times: “We entirely agree that in the 21st century the NHS should be using email and texts to communicate with patients wherever possible.”

However, Helen Stokes-Lampard, the chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, told the newspaper that existing “clunky” NHS IT systems could hamper efforts to make changes quickly and safely.

[Bahia Feliz]

I can imagine someone getting the wrong email telling them they have cancer etc....

[zombiepostman]

What a prat 89%of old people dont know what an email is let along be able to receive one

[blue1873]

Will they take into account that an awful lot of appointments for the various NHS sections
are for the elderly who may not have access to the internet or indeed wish to have access
to the internet.As is stated regularly often the only human contact some of our elderly citizens
have with anyone is with their local posties, not that the powers that be give a s**t.

[rambo1]

Do emails never 'get lost' ?

[Celgar]

The Internet isn't secure hence why the NHS still uses fax machines and sends letters. Aside from the older generations not having access to the internet it is widely used to commit fraud and most systems are relatively easy to hack or poorly defended.

[GT750rider]

I know of at least one health authority who used a down stream access company for appointments. Letters supposedly 1st class took days to arrive, due to the DSA company not dealing with them quickly enough. As a result appointments were missed. They went back to dealing with us soon after.