SMS Text Messaging Policy

We have the facility to send SMS text messages to your mobile phone to contact you.

These may be used to notify you of for example:

  • Changes to your booked appointment.
  • National issues such as Flu pandemics.
  • Practice being closed due to unforeseen circumstances.
  • Cancelled clinics including GP, Nurse and Health care assistant.
  • Questionnaires about your health and wellbeing.
  • Invitations to book an annual review.
  • Invitations to book a vaccination.
  • Other notifications the practice deem necessary to your health and wellbeing.
  • Invitations to provide feedback about our services and GP’s.

If you would like the GP practice to contact you this way please make sure we have your up to date mobile number.

It is important that you let the practice know if you wish to OPT OUT of this service otherwise you will be automatically sent text messages. Patients can opt in and out of this service at any time. Please be aware that by opting out of receiving text messages you will not receive appointment confirmations and appointment reminders.

If you agree to the GP practice contacting you via your mobile phone number, the GP practice agrees to adhere to the following:

  • The mobile phone number will only be used by the GP practice and will not be passed to any third parties.
  • If at any time you would like to opt out of the service, please make a personal request to the GP practice and you will be opted out of the service within 48 hours. You may also like to include your reason for opting out, to help us review and improve the service in the future.
  • Your mobile phone number will solely be used by the GP practice in relation to the healthcare services offered by the GP practice. You will not be contacted in relation to any other types of products or services.
  • Whilst the GP practice will regularly check your telephone numbers with you, please be aware that the onus of keeping your contact details current with the practice rests with you.

We use three sub-contractors to send text messages, they are:

  • TPP SystmOne, this is the clinical system that we use here.
  • AccuRx, this is a third-party system that supports Florey texts (a type of text that sends you a one-time link to complete an online questionnaire.
  • FourteenFish, this a third party system that allows patients to leave feedback about our doctors.

What constitutes text messaging?

  • “Text messaging” covers a variety of systems and apps, including SMS.
  • All of these are covered by the Data Protection Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and overseen by the Information Commissioner.

Legal basis

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) defines a data controller as “a person who (either alone or jointly or in common with other persons) determines the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are, or are to be processed.”

Billesdon Surgery is the data controller, we are responsible for ensuring that patients personal information is used appropriately. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) says we must have a lawful basis to use personal information to send messages via text. Contacting patients by texting their mobile number in order to provide direct care can be permitted under data protection law.

Your medical records

Text messages are considered professional communications and are noted in your medical record, as well as any responses received, such as answers provided to a health questionnaire.

Privacy notices